Why Learning and the Brain is on Everyone’s Mind

It’s no secret the subject of learning and the brain is always on my mind. But lately, it seems to be something everyone is thinking about.

In the past month alone, I’ve received two requests to write articles about the impact of brain research on training and learning. It’s also a topic that seems to be percolating more and more in the overall business community, particularly as new methods of studying the brain have generated new findings, more publicity and greater interest in broader circles.

In light of all this, it’s not surprising that one of the most common remarks I now hear from business leaders, training professionals and learners alike is an exasperated, “I feel like people are telling me I have to be a neuroscientist to do my job these days!”

The last decade has seen a frenzy of neuroscience research, leading to an avalanche of new findings and interest in the field. But along with the exciting new knowledge comes the inevitable hype and distraction. New studies abound that may or may not really be practical or relevant in application.

For true ROI®—the Return on Intelligence that comes from getting a better return on not just Investment but also Initiatives, Interactions and Innovation—application is what matters most. That’s why being able to filter out the signal from the noise, the “breakthroughs” from the “bunk,” is critical.

How has this explosion of research and interest affected your strategies? What can we do to avoid the “neuro-learning fad” syndrome? I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. Drop me a line or tweet me @annherrmann.

(And join me at the Learning 2014 Conference in Orlando next month where I’ll be conducting sessions on this very topic!)