Do Children Learn Faster Than Adults? Study Finds

Written By:

Written By:

Brain News

A team of researchers at Brown University provided insights into why children learn faster than adults. The study is published in the journal Current Biology.

The Study

The researchers examined visual learning in elementary school children and adults in a series of experiments. They used behavioral and state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques to measure differences in GABA, a brain messenger that stabilizes newly learned material.

The Findings

The results revealed that children learn more quickly, in comparison to adults, because visual learning triggers an increase of GABA in children’s visual cortex, the brain area that processes visual information.

This GABA boost persists for several minutes after training ends, thereby helping children retain the information from the lessons better.

The authors added: “Our results imply that children exhibit highly efficient inhibitory, GABAergic processing in spite of inhibitory failures that have been observed in other domains such as cognitive control or attention. This implies that GABAergic processing involved in different aspects of cognitive function might mature at different speeds.

To Know More You May Refer To

Frank, S. M., Becker, M., Qi, A., Geiger, P., Frank, U. I., Rosedahl, L. A., Malloni, W. M., Sasaki, Y., Greenlee, M. W., & Watanabe, T. (2022). Efficient learning in children with rapid GABA boosting during and after training. Current biology : CB32(23), 5022–5030.e7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.021

— Share —

Published On:

Last updated on:

— About the Author —

  • The Psychological Toll Of Birth Control Side Effects: What You Need To Know

    The Psychological Toll Of Birth Control Side Effects: What You Need To Know

  • How Medical Alert Systems Support Mental Well-Being For Seniors

    How Medical Alert Systems Support Mental Well-Being For Seniors

  • Mindfulness and Sobriety: How Daily Reflections Foster Mental Clarity

    Mindfulness and Sobriety: How Daily Reflections Foster Mental Clarity

  • How Can You Streamline Your Insurance Check Before Seeing a Psychiatrist in California: A Practical Guide

    How Can You Streamline Your Insurance Check Before Seeing a Psychiatrist in California: A Practical Guide

  • A Mindful Approach to Managing Stress and Emotional Well-Being

    A Mindful Approach to Managing Stress and Emotional Well-Being

  • How Semaglutide Compares to Other Weight Loss Medications

    How Semaglutide Compares to Other Weight Loss Medications

  • Healing Beyond the Battlefield: How Financial Stability and Housing Support Improve Mental Health for Veterans with Disabilities

    Healing Beyond the Battlefield: How Financial Stability and Housing Support Improve Mental Health for Veterans with Disabilities

  • The Role of Early Intervention in Preventing Long-Term Mental Health Struggles

    The Role of Early Intervention in Preventing Long-Term Mental Health Struggles

  • Navigating Mental Health Education: Your Path to a Fulfilling Healthcare Career

    Navigating Mental Health Education: Your Path to a Fulfilling Healthcare Career

  • Botox vs. Fillers: Which is Right for You?

    Botox vs. Fillers: Which is Right for You?