12-year-old children learn from mistakes

8-year-old children have a different learning strategy compared to 12-year-olds and adults. 8-year-olds learn mostly from compliments while statements that are definitely not going to help them recognize mistakes. 12-year-old children can handle negative feedback better and use it to learn from mistakes. Aldut is also but more efective.

Brain region controls cognition

The switch for learning strategy has been illustrated in behavioral studies. These studies show that 8-year-old children respond inaccurately and disproportionately to negative feedback (blame). But that switch can be seen in the brain, developed by psychologist Eveline Crone and colleagues from Leiden's Brain and Cognitive Laboratory by fMRI research. Differences can be observed in detail in the brain region responsible for cognitive control within the cerebral cortex.

Opposition case

At ages 8 to 9, these areas respond strongly to positive feedback (compliments) and hardly respond to negative feedback. But for children 12 to 13 years old as well as adults, everything is completely opposite. The 'control center' in the brain for this group reacts more strongly to negative feedback, less responsive to positive feedback.

Three-dimensional division

Crone and his colleagues applied the fMRI study to compare the brains of three different age groups: children aged 8 to 9 years, children aged 11 to 12 years, and adults aged 18 to 25 years. This three-dimensional division has never been done before, the comparison is also generally conducted between adults and children.

Unexpected things

Crone was also surprised by the results: 'We predict that the brains of 8-year-olds will function exactly like the brains of 12-year-olds but probably not. Children are always learning, so this new information can have a big impact on those who want to teach their children. How can we provide the most effective guide for 8-year-olds and 12-year-olds? '

Traces and cross marks

Researchers gave two groups of children and adults from 18 to 25 years of age a small computer exercise while they placed the MRI scanner. The exercise requires three groups to find the rules. If done correctly, the traces will appear on the computer screen and if done wrong, the cross will appear. The MRI scanner helps to find out which parts of the brain are activated.

Learn in a different way

The results are surprising, causing Crone to think. 'We start to think less about' good 'or' not very good 'issues. 8-year-olds can learn extremely effectively only when they learn another strategy '.

Learning from mistakes is complicated

Crone has paired fMRI results with available knowledge about the child's development process. 'According to the document, it seems that children respond better to compliments and rewards, not criticism or punishment' . Crone can also imagine the cause of this: 'The feedback that you don't do something well is more complicated than the information that you do well. Learning from mistakes is more complicated than continuing to learn the same way as before. You will have to ask yourself what is wrong and why it is wrong. '

Is that the experience?

Is the difference between 8 and 12 year olds a result of experience or a result of brain development? So far no one has found the answer. Crone said: 'This study of the brain has only been done for about 10 years. There are still many questions that need to be answered. But the combination of mature brain and experience can explain this problem. '

The brain region responds to positive feedback

There is a region in the brain that responds strongly to positive feedback that is the basal ganglia located outside the cortex. The activity of this area has not changed. It is maintained in all ages, whether adults, or children, both in the 8-year-old group and the 12-year-old group.

Refer:
Anna CK van Duijvenvoorde, Kiki Zanolie, Serge ARB Rombouts, Maartje EJ Raijmakers, and Eveline A. Crone. Evaluating the Negative or Valuing the Positive? Neural Mechanisms Supporting Feedback-Based Learning Across Development. The Journal of Neuroscience, 17 September 2008

In children 8 to 9 years of age, the brain region involved in cognitive control activities reacts strongly to compliments.But this is completely different from 12-year-old children.(Photo: University of Leiden)