How We Learn: The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens

by Benedict Carey

of theorizing as pure rationalization, the undergraduate mind at its self-justifying finest. We had so many crackpot theories then, about dating and getting rich and studying, that I’d discarded the whole list. Still, millions of students have developed some version of the brain chemistry idea, and I think its enduring attraction is rooted in something deeper than wishful thinking. The theory fits in nicely with what we’ve been told about good study habits from Day 1—be consistent. Consistency has been a hallmark of education manuals since the 1900s, and the principle is built into our every assumption about good study habits. Develop a ritual, a daily schedule, a single place and time set aside for study and nothing else. Find a private corner of the house or the library, and a quiet niche of the day, early or late. These ideas go back at least to the Puritans and their ideal of study as devotion, but they have not changed a whit. “Choose an area that is quiet and free from distractions,” begins a study guide from Baylor University, though it could be from any institution. It continues: “Develop a study ritual to use each time you study.” “Use earplugs or a headset to block out noise.” “Say no to those who want to alter your study time.” Et cetera. It is all about consistency. And so is the “Study Aid” brain chemistry theory, if you think about it. Using the same “vitamin”—or, okay, mind-altering substance—to prepare and, later, to perform may not be particularly Puritan....