Memory, Attention and Emotions in an Educational Context: A Neuroscientific Perspective

Authors

  • Lăcrămioara Mocanu Danubius University

Keywords:

neuroeducation; memory; attention; emotions; synaptic plasticity

Abstract

Understanding the brain mechanisms underlying learning is becoming increasingly relevant
for optimizing the educational process. This article explores the complex relationship between memory,
attention, and emotions in the educational context, drawing on recent discoveries in neuroscience. The
analysis focuses on how these three components interact at the brain level and influence students’
academic performance. We will examine the neuroanatomical structures involved in memory processes,
the mechanisms by which selective attention facilitates information retention, and the fundamental role
of emotions in consolidating learning. The article also provides insight into the practical implications
for teachers, suggesting that integrating neuroscientific principles into pedagogical practice can
transform traditional teaching methods. The conclusions highlight the need for a holistic approach in
education, which takes into account the complexity of brain functioning and the interdependence
between cognitive and affective processes.

References

Atkinson, R. C., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control

processes. In K. W. Spence & J. T. Spence (Eds.), The psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 2,

pp. 89-195). Academic Press.

Baddeley, A. D., & Hitch, G. (1974). Working memory. In G. H. Bower (Ed.), The psychology of

learning and motivation: Advances in research and theory (Vol. 8, pp. 47-89). Academic Press.

Bjork, R. A., & Bjork, E. L. (1992). A new theory of disuse and an old theory of stimulus fluctuation.

In A. Healy, S. Kosslyn, & R. Shiffrin (Eds.), From learning processes to cognitive processes: Essays

in honor of William K. Estes (Vol. 2, pp. 35-67). Erlbaum.

Bliss, T. V., & Lomo, T. (1973). Long-lasting potentiation of synaptic transmission in the dentate area

of the anaesthetized rabbit following stimulation of the perforant path. The Journal of Physiology,

(2), 331-356.

Cepeda, N. J., Pashler, H., Vul, E., Wixted, J. T., & Rohrer, D. (2006). Distributed practice in verbal

recall tasks: A review and quantitative synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 132(3), 354-380.

Chun, M. M., & Turk-Browne, N. B. (2007). Interactions between attention and memory. Current

Opinion in Neurobiology, 17(2), 177-184.

Corbetta, M., & Shulman, G. L. (2002). Control of goal-directed and stimulus-driven attention in the

brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 3(3), 201-215.

Draganski, B., Gaser, C., Busch, V., Schuierer, G., Bogdahn, U., & May, A. (2004). Neuroplasticity:

Changes in grey matter induced by training. Nature, 427(6972), 311-312.

Fan, J., Mccandliss, B. D., Fossella, J., Flombaum, J. I., & Posner, M. I. (2005). The activation of

attentional networks. NeuroImage, 26(2), 471-479.

Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build

theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218-226.

Goldman-Rakic, P. S. (1995). Cellular basis of working memory. Neuron, 14(3), 477-485.

Goswami, U. (2006). Neuroscience and education: From research to practice? Nature Reviews

Neuroscience, 7(5), 406-413.

Immordino-Yang, M. H., Damasio, A. (2007). We feel, therefore we learn: The relevance of affective

and social neuroscience to education. Mind, Brain, and Education, 1(1), 3-10.

Ledoux, J. E. (2000). Emotion circuits in the brain. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 23, 155-184.

Lupien, S. J., Mcewen, B. S., Gunnar, M. R., & Heim, C. (2009). Effects of stress throughout the

lifespan on the brain, behaviour, and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 10(6), 434-445.

Mcgaugh, J. L. (2004). The amygdala modulates the consolidation of memories of emotionally arousing

experiences. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 27, 1-28.

Nader, K., & Hardt, O. (2009). A single standard for memory: The case for reconsolidation. Nature

Reviews Neuroscience, 10(3), 224-234.

Ochsner, K. N., & Gross, J. J. (2005). The cognitive control of emotion. Trends in Cognitive Sciences,

(5), 242-249.

Posner, M. I., & Petersen, S. E. (1990). The attention system of the human brain. Annual Review of

Neuroscience, 13, 25-42.

Rizzolatti, G., & Craighero, L. (2004). The mirror-neuron system. Annual Review of Neuroscience, 27,

-192.

Robertson, I. H., Manly, T., Andrade, J., & Baddeley, B. T., (1997). ‘Oops!’: Performance correlates

of everyday attentional failures in traumatic brain-injured and normal subjects. Neuropsychologia,

(6), 747-758.

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation,

social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68-78.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-01

How to Cite

Mocanu, L. (2026). Memory, Attention and Emotions in an Educational Context: A Neuroscientific Perspective. Didactica Danubiensis, 6(1), 439–449. Retrieved from https://dj.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/DD/article/view/3779

Issue

Section

Articles