The podcast of the Association for Psychological Science. What does science tell us about the way the think, behave, and learn about the world around us?
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The podcast of the Association for Psychological Science. What does science tell us about the way the think, behave, and learn about the world around us?
Beyond Focus: How Attention Shapes Learning Differently for Children and Adults
Under the Cortex
24 minutes 1 second
8 months ago
Beyond Focus: How Attention Shapes Learning Differently for Children and Adults
Children often surprise us with the details they remember—sometimes even better than adults! But what if their ability to learn comes not from focus, but from a broader, less selective attention? This episode unpacks research showing that while adults learn best when paying attention, children (ages 7-9) absorb information just as well, even when it’s irrelevant to their task. Could this be the secret behind their incredible learning abilities?
In this episode of Under the Cortex, host Özge Gürcanlı Fischer Baum speaks with Marlie Tandoc from the University of Pennsylvania who recently published an article on learning and attention in APS’s journal Psychological Science. Together they discuss whether children’s weaker selective attention is a hidden strength by addressing findings on attention, memory, and childhood learning.
If you're interested in learning more about this research, visit psychologicalscience.org.
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Under the Cortex
The podcast of the Association for Psychological Science. What does science tell us about the way the think, behave, and learn about the world around us?
