Science of Learning and Memory
Explore the fascinating science of learning and memory! Dive into topics like how we learn, classical conditioning, and amnesia. Test your own memory with fun, interactive activities, and discover how the human brain stores, retrieves, and sometimes forgets information.
Course Information
Certificate Track
Learn for Free
About this Course
Have you ever wondered how we learn, remember, or why we sometimes forget? Satisfy your curiosity – and gain a deeper understanding of how the human brain processes learning and memory – with this interactive online course from the MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences.
Key topics include:
- How We Learn: Explore the science behind classical and operant conditioning.
- Stages of Memory: Understand how we encode, store, and retrieve information.
- Memory Problems: Discover the mysteries of amnesia, including retrograde and anterograde amnesia.
- Memory Systems: Learn how short-term, long-term, and working memory interact to shape how we think and recall.
- Interactive Memory Tests: Test your own memory skills with fun and engaging activities.
What Makes This Course Unique?
- Interactive and Fun: Hands-on memory tests and activities let you see theories in action and apply them to your life.
- Accessible to All: Whether you're new to neuroscience or have prior knowledge, this course is designed for learners of all backgrounds.
- Real-World Insights: Go beyond theory with examples of how memory science impacts everyday life and career development.
Curious about how the brain works? Take this course to explore the wonders of learning and memory, gain practical tools for personal and professional growth, and enjoy discovering the incredible power of the mind.
As mental health, education, and technology evolve, understanding learning and memory is more relevant than ever. Whether you're a student, professional, or simply curious about the human brain, knowledge gained from this course applies to personal development, teaching, training, and even understanding human behavior. This course is ideal for professionals and curious learners alike, including:
- Educators: Teachers, professors, and trainers aiming to enhance learning strategies.
- Healthcare Professionals: Psychologists, therapists, and neurologists exploring memory systems and disorders.
- Students & Researchers: Aspiring neuroscientists, psychologists, or cognitive scientists.
- Leaders & HR Professionals: Managers seeking to improve training, decision-making, and communication.
- Lifelong Learners: Anyone passionate about understanding how we learn, remember, and grow.
What you'll learn
- Understand how learning and memory processes work.
- Apply classical and operant conditioning principles.
- Recognize and analyze different types of memory systems.
- Explore causes and impacts of memory disorders.
Prerequisites
None. This course is designed for learners of all backgrounds.
Meet your instructors
John Gabrieli
Grover Hermann Professor of Health Sciences and Technology and Cognitive Neuroscience
John Gabrieli, Ph.D., is Grover Hermann Professor of Health Sciences and Technology and Cognitive Neuroscience at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT he has appointments in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, the Institute for Medical Engineering and & Sciences (IMES), and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, with affiliations in the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Psychiatry. He is Director of the Martinos Imaging Center at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research and founding Director of the MIT Integrated Learning Initiative. He received a B.A. in English from Yale (1978), a Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from MIT (1987), was a postdoctoral fellow in the Psychology Department at Harvard, and on faculty at Northwestern and Stanford before returning to MIT in 2005. His research focuses on human cognitive neuroscience both in health and in neurodevelopmental diversity and neuropsychiatric disorders, and implications for education and equity. He is an author on over 300 papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, including publications in Science and Nature.
