Mental Activity and the Act of Learning in the Digital Age

Abstract

Theories of the mind have been proposed since the Greek philosopher Plato (427 – 347 B.C.) compared memories to etchings on a wax tablet. Just as the resilience of a message etched on a wax table is based on such things as hardiness, purity, and depth of the wax, the resilience of our memories are based on factors, such as the significance, clarity and depth of processing. While theories of the mind have been proposed for thousands of years, it has really been in the last twenty-five years that we have truly begun to uncover the complex association between the mind, brain, and thought. With the advent of the digital age including new imaging technologies, we can explore the act of learning like never before. Indeed, the physiology and psychology of mental activity can be the foundation for exploring the act of learning.