Editing Learning (section)

===Adult learning vs children's learning===
{{See also|Aging brain}}
Learning is often [[Development of the nervous system in humans|more efficient]] in [[children]] and takes longer or is more difficult with [[aging|age]]. A study using [[neuroimaging]] identified rapid [[neurotransmitter]] [[GABA]] boosting as a major potential explanation-component for why that is.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brain scans shed light on how kids learn faster than adults |url=https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2022/11/17/brain-scans-children-learn/9721668697147/ |access-date=17 December 2022 |work=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Frank |first1=Sebastian M. |last2=Becker |first2=Markus |last3=Qi |first3=Andrea |last4=Geiger |first4=Patricia |last5=Frank |first5=Ulrike I. |last6=Rosedahl |first6=Luke A. |last7=Malloni |first7=Wilhelm M. |last8=Sasaki |first8=Yuka |last9=Greenlee |first9=Mark W. |last10=Watanabe |first10=Takeo |title=Efficient learning in children with rapid GABA boosting during and after training |journal=Current Biology |date=5 December 2022 |volume=32 |issue=23 |pages=5022–5030.e7 |doi=10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.021 |pmid=36384138 |language=English |issn=0960-9822|biorxiv=10.1101/2022.01.02.474022|s2cid=253571891|doi-access=free |bibcode=2022CBio...32E5022F }}</ref>

Children's brains contain more "[[silent synapse]]s" that are inactive [[Connectome|until recruited]] as part of [[neuroplasticity]] and flexible learning or [[memory|memories]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lloreda |first1=Claudia López |title=Adult mouse brains are teeming with 'silent synapses' |work=Science News |url=https://www.sciencenews.org/article/adult-mouse-brains-silent-synapses-memories |access-date=18 December 2022 |date=16 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vardalaki |first1=Dimitra |last2=Chung |first2=Kwanghun |last3=Harnett |first3=Mark T. |title=Filopodia are a structural substrate for silent synapses in adult neocortex |journal=Nature |date=December 2022 |volume=612 |issue=7939 |pages=323–327 |doi=10.1038/s41586-022-05483-6 |pmid=36450984 |bibcode=2022Natur.612..323V |s2cid=254122483 |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-05483-6 |language=en |issn=1476-4687|url-access=subscription}}
* University press release: {{cite news |last1=Trafton |first1=Anne |title=Silent synapses are abundant in the adult brain |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-11-silent-synapses-abundant-adult-brain.html |access-date=18 December 2022 |work=Massachusetts Institute of Technology via medicalxpress.com |language=en}}</ref> Neuroplasticity is heightened during critical or sensitive periods of brain development, mainly referring to brain development during [[child development]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ismail |first1=Fatima Yousif |last2=Fatemi |first2=Ali |last3=Johnston |first3=Michael V. |title=Cerebral plasticity: Windows of opportunity in the developing brain |journal=European Journal of Paediatric Neurology |date=1 January 2017 |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=23–48 |doi=10.1016/j.ejpn.2016.07.007 |pmid=27567276 |language=English |issn=1090-3798}}</ref>

However researchers, after subjecting late middle aged participants to university courses, suggest perceived age differences in learning may be a result of differences in time, support, environment, and attitudes, rather than inherent ability.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/lifelong-learning |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=www.apa.org}}</ref>

What humans learn at the early stages, and what they learn to apply, sets humans on course for life or has a disproportional impact.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Buxton |first1=Alex |title=What Happens in the Brain When Children Learn? |url=https://neurosciencenews.com/child-learning-prefrontal-lobe-3622/ |website=Neuroscience News |access-date=11 January 2023 |date=10 February 2016}}</ref> Adults usually have a higher capacity to select what they learn, to what extent and how. For example, children may learn [[Education#Development|the given subjects and topics of school curricula via classroom blackboard-transcription handwriting]], instead of being able to choose specific topics/skills or jobs to learn and the styles of learning. For instance, children may not have developed consolidated interests, ethics, interest in purpose and meaningful activities, knowledge about real-world requirements and demands, and priorities.