Towards an understanding of neuroscience for science educators

Advances in neuroscience have brought new insights to the development of cognitive functions. These data are of considerable interest to educators concerned with how students learn. This review documents some of the recent findings in neuroscience, which is richer in describing cognitive functions than affective aspects of learning. A brief overview is presented here of the techniques used to generate data from imaging and how these findings have the possibility to inform educators. There are implications for considering the impact of neuroscience at all levels of education – from the classroom teacher and practitioner to policy. This relatively new cross-disciplinary area of research implies a need for educators and scientists to engage with each other. What questions are emerging through such dialogues between educators and scientists are likely to shed light on, for example, reward, motivation, working memory, learning difficulties, bilingualism and child development. The sciences of learning are entering a new paradigm

Femtosecond laser-induced periodic surface structures on diamond-like nanocomposite films

We study the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on diamond-like nanocomposite (DLN) a-C:H:Si:O films and titanium-doped DLN films during femtosecond (fs) laser ablation processing with linearly-polarized beams of IR and visible fs-lasers (wavelengths 1030 nm and 515 nm, pulse duration 320 fs, pulse repetition rates 100 kHz-2 MHz, scanning beam velocity 0.04–0.4 m/s). The studies are focused on (i) comparison of high spatial frequency LIPSS (HSFL) and low spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL) formed on DLN and Ti-DLN films by IR fs-laser processing, (ii) effects of the pulse repetition rate on the parameters of LIPSS formed on the DLN and Ti-DLN films, (iii) Raman spectroscopy analysis of the LIPSS-structured films with application for ultrathin surface graphitization, and (iv) relationship between the fs-laser-induced surface graphitization and LIPSS formation on the films. A variety of the HSFL and LSFL have been produced on the surface of DLN and Ti-DLN films, with all the LIPSS being oriented perpendicular to the beam polarization direction. The HSFL periods are varied from ~80 to 240 nm and the LSFL periods are varied from 355 to 840 nm, depending on the fs-laser irradiation conditions (wavelength, fluence, pulse repetition rate) and films properties. Various plasmonic effects such as the superposition of the HSFL and LSFL and emergence of very unusual sinusoid-like structures on the DLN and Ti-DLN films are presented and discussed

The relationship between n-back performance and matrix reasoning - implications for training and transfer

We have previously demonstrated that training on a dual n-back task results in improvements in fluid intelligence (Gf) as measured by matrix reasoning tasks. Here, we explored the underlying mechanisms of this transfer effect in two studies, and we evaluated the transfer potential of a single n-back task. In the first study, we demonstrated that dual and single n-back task performances are approximately equally correlated with performance on two different tasks measuring Gf, whereas the correlation with a task assessing working memory capacity was smaller. Based on these results, the second study was aimed on testing the hypothesis that training on a single n-back task yields the same improvement in Gf as training on a dual n-back task, but that there should be less transfer to working memory capacity. We trained two groups of students for four weeks with either a single or a dual n-back intervention. We investigated transfer effects on working memory capacity and Gf comparing the two training groups' performance to controls who received no training of any kind. Our results showed that both training groups improved more on Gf than controls, thereby replicating and extending our prior results

Femtosecond-laser-ablation induced transformations in the structure and surface properties of diamond-like nanocomposite films

Femtosecond laser ablation processing is applied for surface modification and micropatterning of diamond-like nanocomposite (DLN) films (a-C:H:Si:O films). Using a visible femtosecond laser (wavelength 515 nm, pulse duration 320 fs), microgroove patterns have been fabricated on the DLN films, aimed at further studies of their properties. The studies were focused on (i) structural transformations in the surface layers using Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), (ii) wettability of laser-patterned films, and (iii) nano/ microscale friction properties of laser-patterned DLN films using lateral force microscopy. Raman spectroscopy and TEM data showed characteristic features of the surface graphitization during ultrashort-pulse ablation. High resolution TEM study of the microgrooves revealed the formation of cubic SiC nanocrystals (4–8 nm size) on the laser-ablated surface. The water contact angle measurements showed anisotropic wetting behavior of the grooved surfaces (the contact angle was different in the directions parallel and perpendicular to microgrooves), depending on the groove depth (aspect ratio). Lateral force microscopy examination (with micro-sized Si tips) showed that the laser-patterned regions exhibited low friction properties compared to the original surface. The obtained results demonstrate that femtosecond laser processing is an effective technique to generate new properties of hard DLN coatings at the micro and macroscale