This Tip discusses the triune brain and the limbic system, the latter which is the seat of memory and important to learning retention.
The Triune Brain and the Limbic System
Last week, we discussed the first model, Edgar Dale’s Cone of Experience and Learning. It demonstrates why it is so important for participants to engage in learning activities that require them to verbally interact and to physically apply their new learning.
The Triune Brain
The second model is the Triune Brain Model, developed by Dr. Paul MacLean in 1952. He discovered that there were three major layers or “brains,” which evolved successively in response to evolutionary need:
- the Reptilian System,
- the Limbic System, and
- the Neocortex.
Each layer is geared toward more or less separate functions. However, all three layers interact substantially.
The Limbic System
For our purposes, one of the most important layers is the second layer. This system monitors emotion and plays a significant role in remembering new information. It acts as a switchboard. It reads the sensations from the body and decides which to send to the third layer, the Neocortex, for expanded awareness and action.
This model proves that memory is emotional and is lodged in the Limbic System. The more we engage the senses and sensations, the more likely we create and retain a memory. This is a cornerstone concept of Accelerated Learning.
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