The Aspen Institute

This research brief from the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development explores how emotions and relationships drive learning and are a fundamental part of how our brains develop. Authors Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, a professor of education, psychology and neuroscience at the University of Southern California and a member of the Council of Distinguished Scientists, and Linda Darling-Hammond, the president and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute and a co-chair of the Commission, explain how emotionally safe and cognitively stimulating environments contribute to brain development; how brain development that supports learning depends on social experiences; and how sensitive periods in brain development align with opportunities for learning and needed supports. The brief draws from the research base to suggest basic principles for educational policymakers and practitioners.

Access Footnotes to the report here