The brain has two modes of thinking that Dr.
Oakley simplifies as “focused,” in which
learners concentrate on the material, and
“diffuse,” a neural resting state in which
consolidation occurs — that is, the new
information can settle into the brain.
(Cognitive scientists talk about task-positive
networks and default-mode networks,
respectively, in describing the two states.) In
diffuse mode, connections between bits of
information, and unexpected insights, can occur.
That’s why it’s helpful to take a brief break
after a burst of focused work.
TAKE A BREAK
To accomplish those periods of focused and
diffuse-mode thinking, Dr. Oakley recommends
what is known as the Pomodoro Technique,
developed by one Francesco Cirillo. Set a
kitchen timer for a 25-minute stretch of focused
work, followed by a brief reward, which includes
a break for diffuse reflection. (“Pomodoro” is
Italian for tomato — some timers look like
tomatoes.) The reward — listening to a song,
taking a walk, anything to enter a relaxed state
— takes your mind off the task at hand.
Precisely because you’re not thinking about the
task, the brain can subconsciously consolidate
the new knowledge. Dr. Oakley compares this
process to “a librarian filing books away on
shelves for later retrieval.”
As a bonus, the ritual of setting the timer can
also help overcome procrastination. Dr. Oakley
teaches that even thinking about doing things we
dislike activates the pain centers of the brain.
The Pomodoro Technique, she said, “helps the
mind slip into focus and begin work without
thinking about the work.”
“Virtually anyone can focus for 25 minutes, and
the more you practice, the easier it gets.”
PRACTICE
“Chunking” is the process of creating a neural
pattern that can be reactivated when needed. It
might be an equation or a phrase in French or a
guitar chord. Research shows that having a
mental library of well-practiced neural chunks
is necessary for developing expertise.
Practice brings procedural fluency, says Dr.
Oakley, who compares the process to backing up a
car. “When you first are learning to back up,
your working memory is overwhelmed with input.”
In time, “you don’t even need to think more than
‘Hey, back up,’ ” and the mind is free to think
about other things.
Chunks build on chunks, and, she says, the
neural network built upon that knowledge grows
bigger. “You remember longer bits of music, for
example, or more complex phrases in French.”
Mastering low-level math concepts allows
tackling more complex mental acrobatics. “You
can easily bring them to mind even while your
active focus is grappling with newer, more
difficult information.”
KNOW THYSELF
Dr. Oakley urges her students to understand that
people learn in different ways. Those who have
“racecar brains” snap up information; those with
“hiker brains” take longer to assimilate
information but, like a hiker, perceive more
details along the way. Recognizing the
advantages and disadvantages, she says, is the
first step in learning how to approach
unfamiliar material.