I spent a couple of years studying the brain on my own, informally, in search of answers that would gain me better understanding of my son and myself. It was such a journey of discovery. I think every parent of a quirky child wants to understand how they are not only different but also how they can "fit in" better with the world in which we share with others. Parents of quirky children, I've found, tend to try everything to see if it works. They exhaust themselves on different books of parenting support, social skills support, behavioral management, appropriate developmental skills, and etc. These parents are far more knowledgeable in raising children, but just simply don't have children that act "normal." These parents often become very creative in their parenting especially when consistency doesn't always work.
The interesting thing about COB learners (Core of the Brain) is that, to them, the world really does exist just in their mind. They have the inability to project their mental picture outside of themselves. Why? I asked an internationally known Neuropyschologist my theory on learning styles and functions of the brain. My curiosity got the best of me, as we ate lunch together during her conference, so I began to ask her about why COB learners have the inability to project their mental pictures outside of their brain. There is an area of the brain in between your Occipital Lobe (pink area on the image above, responsible for visuospatial processing, color discrimination and motion perception) and your Temporal Lobe (green area on the image above, responsible for speech, language, and hearing) on the left side of the brain that is responsible for motion. Coincidentally, this is also near the Wernicke area which is responsible for language comprehension and understanding. This seems to be an undeveloped or injured area of the brain which doesn't allow for the mental picture to move outside of the brain. I also questioned if this may also be the reason for the difficulties in expressive language (output of language either in writing or speaking) for these kids. That link is yet unknown. It does explain why these learners have the inability to "put themselves in other's shoes" and understand things from other perspectives in a social situation.
How else this shows up in COB learners is that they seem to have an overactive Amygdala. Say what? The Amygdala in the brain is kind of like the "brain of the brain." Any time we have an area of the brain that does not function appropriately, the Amygdala will take over. It's a small area of the brain, about the size of an almond, that lies in the center of the brain. The Amygdala is responsible for your emotions. It is also the "survival mechanism" that reacts when there is a danger present and tells the body to either RUN or FIGHT! So, for many of these kids who have an underdeveloped area, they often have an overactive Amygdala. These kids often respond to simple, harmless things with over exaggerated emotional responses. They tend to implode (depression) or explode (act out) with simple punishments. Their responses seem "All or Nothing." Ironically, COB learner's mental picture also seems to be "located" in about the same area of the Amygdala.
The good thing about this is that for most of the COB learners, the underdeveloped areas of the brain will come together in their mid-twenties, except for those who have brain injuries. Mid-Twenties!!! We have to live with this until then?! Then what? Teach and communicate to their strengths, not their weaknesses, to address their weaknesses. Praise their strengths and tap into their artistic, engineering, or musical gifts (as most of these kids have). Most will also be successful in taking medication to quiet the Amygdala, in addition to learning more about their unique style. Most of the kids will benefit from learning about their learning style, about who they are, and what works for them so they can advocate for themselves. This will also allow for them to find coping mechanisms or compensation strategies that will allow them to problem solve ways for themselves on what works for them. Without being taught to their learning style, these kids will become flustered and remain in imploding or exploding behaviors and will often give up on themselves before their brain wiring matures.
The interesting thing about COB learners (Core of the Brain) is that, to them, the world really does exist just in their mind. They have the inability to project their mental picture outside of themselves. Why? I asked an internationally known Neuropyschologist my theory on learning styles and functions of the brain. My curiosity got the best of me, as we ate lunch together during her conference, so I began to ask her about why COB learners have the inability to project their mental pictures outside of their brain. There is an area of the brain in between your Occipital Lobe (pink area on the image above, responsible for visuospatial processing, color discrimination and motion perception) and your Temporal Lobe (green area on the image above, responsible for speech, language, and hearing) on the left side of the brain that is responsible for motion. Coincidentally, this is also near the Wernicke area which is responsible for language comprehension and understanding. This seems to be an undeveloped or injured area of the brain which doesn't allow for the mental picture to move outside of the brain. I also questioned if this may also be the reason for the difficulties in expressive language (output of language either in writing or speaking) for these kids. That link is yet unknown. It does explain why these learners have the inability to "put themselves in other's shoes" and understand things from other perspectives in a social situation.
How else this shows up in COB learners is that they seem to have an overactive Amygdala. Say what? The Amygdala in the brain is kind of like the "brain of the brain." Any time we have an area of the brain that does not function appropriately, the Amygdala will take over. It's a small area of the brain, about the size of an almond, that lies in the center of the brain. The Amygdala is responsible for your emotions. It is also the "survival mechanism" that reacts when there is a danger present and tells the body to either RUN or FIGHT! So, for many of these kids who have an underdeveloped area, they often have an overactive Amygdala. These kids often respond to simple, harmless things with over exaggerated emotional responses. They tend to implode (depression) or explode (act out) with simple punishments. Their responses seem "All or Nothing." Ironically, COB learner's mental picture also seems to be "located" in about the same area of the Amygdala.
The good thing about this is that for most of the COB learners, the underdeveloped areas of the brain will come together in their mid-twenties, except for those who have brain injuries. Mid-Twenties!!! We have to live with this until then?! Then what? Teach and communicate to their strengths, not their weaknesses, to address their weaknesses. Praise their strengths and tap into their artistic, engineering, or musical gifts (as most of these kids have). Most will also be successful in taking medication to quiet the Amygdala, in addition to learning more about their unique style. Most of the kids will benefit from learning about their learning style, about who they are, and what works for them so they can advocate for themselves. This will also allow for them to find coping mechanisms or compensation strategies that will allow them to problem solve ways for themselves on what works for them. Without being taught to their learning style, these kids will become flustered and remain in imploding or exploding behaviors and will often give up on themselves before their brain wiring matures.
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