Brain-to-brain synchrony in the stem classroom

Abstract

Cognitive neuroscience research is typically conducted in controlled laboratory environ-ments that hold very little resemblance to science, technology, engineering, and math-ematics classrooms. Fortunately, recent advances in portable electroencephalography technology now allow researchers to collect brain data from groups of students in re-al-world classrooms. Even though this line of research is still new, there is growing evi-dence that students’ engagement, memory retention, and social dynamics are reflected in the brain-to-brain synchrony between students and teachers (i.e., the similarity in their brain responses). In this Essay, I will provide an overview of this emerging line of research, discuss how this approach can facilitate new collaborations between neuroscientists and discipline-based education researchers, and propose directions for future research.