Welcome to the March 2025 Learning Brain News.

In this edition we cover ADHD, working memory, a review of school bullying by the Australian government, how primary students perform best at associative learning, and speaking a language other than English at home.

Enjoy,
The Learning Brain News Team

PS: Be sure to check out the Book of the Month. “A Gut Mood Solution”.

One in Five Australians Speak a Language Other Than English at Home

When it comes time to start school, it’s common for parents to worry about raising a child to be bilingual or multilingual and whether it will harm their child’s English development.

They needn't worry. Research shows speaking more than one language doesn’t hinder a child’s academic progress, in fact, it can even help.

Associative Learning: Primary School Children Outperform all Other Age Groups

Associative learning is the ability to make a connection between an event and its consequences. It is a crucial skill for adapting to the environment. 

A study at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, shows that children of primary school age demonstrate the highest learning performance in this area. The results pave the way for a fresh perspective on associative learning disorders, which are linked to the development of mental illness later in life.

Using AI to Analyse Medical Images

A new AI-based system for analysing images taken over time can accurately detect changes and predict outcomes, according to a new study. 

The system's sensitivity and flexibility could make it useful across a wide range of medical and scientific applications.

Brain’s Working Memory Limits Tied to Learning, Not Just Capacity

A new study reveals that working memory limitations stem from learning challenges rather than storage capacity. Using a computer model of the basal ganglia and thalamus, researchers showed that holding too much information at once confuses the brain, impairing its ability to learn and use stored data effectively.

“ADHD is an Actual Condition. You Can’t Beat It Out of a Child”

Research confirms spanking and other corporal punishments to be ineffective and harmful to kids’ mental health.

New 'Rapid Review’

One in four students report being bullied in Australian schools.

The Australian Federal government has announced a 6-month “rapid review” of bullying in schools.This will look at what schools do now to address bullying and what they should be doing.

Learn what research tells us works when it comes to addressing bullying in schools.

What is Auditory Processing Disorder?

Are you concerned your child may have Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)? This eBook may help.

Download your free eBook to discover:

• What APD is
• What the signs of APD are and how to identify it
• EQ (emotional quotient) vs IQ (intelligence quotient)
• How parents can support their child with APD

Australia

Australian Inclusive Schooling Conference
Brisbane, 27 - 28 March 2025