A recent study by researchers at Stanford concluded that a positive attitude is as important as IQ as a predictor of academic success. The researchers demonstrated that a positive attitude has an effect on the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory.
The study’s lead author, Lang Chen, was quoted in an article by Abigail Hess as saying, “we saw that if you have a strong interest and self-perceived ability in math, it results in enhanced memory and more efficient engagement of the brain’s problem-solving capacities”. This article is a nice reminder that a parent’s and teacher’s creative engagement and positive reinforcement plays an important role in maximizing our kids ability to grow and learn.
