Attention allows us to focus on relevant information while ignoring distractions. Effective suppression of distracting information is crucial for efficient visual search. Recent studies have developed two paradigms to investigate attentional suppression: cued-suppression which is based on top-down control, and learned-suppression which is based on…

In the modern age, we often consume content at faster than its normal speed. Prior research suggests that watching lecture videos at speeds up to 2x does not significantly affect performance, but the mechanisms by which comprehension is preserved at faster playback speeds are not fully understood. Therefore, we sought to investigate whether there…

'Motionese' can be defined as an exaggerated and repetitive action. It induces preference and learning in infants. However, which action component of motionese promotes infants' preference and learning remains largely unknown. In this study, we focused on inefficiency and toward-ness of action. Our study demonstrates that observing an inefficient…

The present work reviews and summarizes results of tracing studies up to the present and collects different explanations for found effects of pointing and tracing while learning as an effective touch-based action method. Two explanations are focused finally in order to test them in the presented eye-tracking study. The study (N = 90) with a…

Background: Virtual reality (VR) offers much potential for learning, but it challenges learners' orientation. Objectives: This paper investigates whether it is possible to use light or movement cues to facilitate orientation in a search task in a desktop-VR environment so that participants can better attend to the learning content presented…

Virtual Reality (VR) has gained popularity in educational fields enabling new learning possibilities. In the implementation process, VR could improve learning by increasing positive affective and cognitive processing, whereas VR also could hurt learning by increasing distraction and leading to poorer learning outcomes. Thus, understanding the…

Background: Existing research has linked individuals' flow experience - a positive affective and cognitive state of deep immersion and engagement in daily activities - and their well-being, particularly among university students. A growing number of longitudinal studies have further contributed to this understanding. However, limited attention has…

This study examines the emotional experiences of preservice teachers within the context of a mindfulness intervention. With a collective instrumental case study design, my focus was highly descriptive. I ask: how do preservice teachers experience emotions around learning to teach? And, how do preservice teachers use mindfulness to frame their…

Students' cellphone use has been related to poorer learning, possibly due to greater distraction. This study investigated whether cellphone-related anxiety, addiction, and disconnection were related to distraction and learning as well as how practical educational policies could minimize negative effects. Participants (N = 218) watched a video…

Statistical learning (SL), the ability to detect and extract regularities from inputs, has been considered as an early-maturing and domain-general mechanism that is critical for typical language development. However, recent evidence in neurotypical adults and children have found that individuals can vary in their SL abilities across linguistic and…

In this study, an interactive science learning app on the topic of plate tectonics was developed for tablets to promote argumentative reasoning. The app guided learners through learning stages that required them to propose arguments, identify relevant evidence, acquire background knowledge, and engage in argumentative reasoning in different…

Engagement can be situative and, when it occurs, a number of experiences will co-occur. The present study examined the co-occurred experiences of optimal learning moments (OLM), a type of situated engagement, using the novel network analysis and including data from two countries: Finland and the US. Both samples were from high schools and were…

Involuntary musical imagery (INMI; more commonly known as "earworms" or having a song "stuck in your head") is a common musical phenomenon and one of the most salient examples of spontaneous cognition. Despite the ubiquitous nature of INMI in the general population, functional roles of INMI remain to be fully established and…

Memory is expressed in multiple functionally and anatomically distinct systems that interact over the course of learning and during the retrieval of information about the world. One method to determine the kind of memory representation (episodic and/or procedural) guiding behavior is to look at the expression of expectations (i.e., predictions) in…

Several studies in multimedia learning have examined the effect of emotional design. Recent findings from cognitive psychology provide opportunities for educators to use more direct ways of manipulating emotion to enhance learning. These studies have shown that emotionally arousing words and pictures are remembered better than neutral ones.…