New wave of learning
How I Came Back to Learning About the Brain
Watching videos by Dr. Justin Sung was so inspiring that after one of them I decided to return to learning about brain science again.
I’ve always been fascinated by neuroscience and cognitive science, and over the years I’ve read a few non-fiction books on the topic. But I realized that while I’ve built up a lot of interest, I don’t really have much knowledge. So this time, I want to take it seriously.
I believe our brain is the most powerful part of the body — and, in a way, the core of our whole life. Constant learning keeps it young and flexible: it supports memory, improves focus, helps us stay mentally sharp, and even lowers the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s. Besides, life without new knowledge, stories, or experiences would simply be dull.
Learning something new doesn’t always mean mastering a new framework or tool — it can also mean exploring a new area of science, a new skill, or even learning how to learn. Interestingly, such experiences often enhance our ability to study and work in completely different fields. They help us keep our thinking sharp, recognize patterns faster, and generate insights that wouldn’t appear from a narrow focus alone.
As a starting point for learning about the human brain, I chose the MIT course on YouTube. But before diving into it, I decided to review my own learning process — to understand how to learn more effectively. Of course, it won’t be perfect from the start, but it’s the first step toward a more deliberate and efficient learning journey.
I took the test from one of Dr. Sung’s videos to check my current state — the result was just 6%! A bit of a reality check, but also good motivation to start improving.
I’ve always been fascinated by neuroscience and cognitive science, and over the years I’ve read a few non-fiction books on the topic. But I realized that while I’ve built up a lot of interest, I don’t really have much knowledge. So this time, I want to take it seriously.
I believe our brain is the most powerful part of the body — and, in a way, the core of our whole life. Constant learning keeps it young and flexible: it supports memory, improves focus, helps us stay mentally sharp, and even lowers the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s. Besides, life without new knowledge, stories, or experiences would simply be dull.
Learning something new doesn’t always mean mastering a new framework or tool — it can also mean exploring a new area of science, a new skill, or even learning how to learn. Interestingly, such experiences often enhance our ability to study and work in completely different fields. They help us keep our thinking sharp, recognize patterns faster, and generate insights that wouldn’t appear from a narrow focus alone.
As a starting point for learning about the human brain, I chose the MIT course on YouTube. But before diving into it, I decided to review my own learning process — to understand how to learn more effectively. Of course, it won’t be perfect from the start, but it’s the first step toward a more deliberate and efficient learning journey.
I took the test from one of Dr. Sung’s videos to check my current state — the result was just 6%! A bit of a reality check, but also good motivation to start improving.
The next step is to work on encoding — the process of transforming new information into a form that can be stored and recalled effectively. I’ve started experimenting with mind maps, using the L2R2 method: first, think on paper and write down everything that seems important, then rework those notes into a structured mind map to better understand and remember the material.
If you’ve tried mind maps before and felt they didn’t work, these two videos explain why and how to make them much more efficient:
If you’ve tried mind maps before and felt they didn’t work, these two videos explain why and how to make them much more efficient:
Luckily, the Study Mode in ChatGPT came out just in time — it allows saving context inside a project and helps to build structured, consistent learning sessions. I’ve already created two projects there: one for English language learning and another for Cognitive Science. Both are designed to track progress, organize materials, and apply the methods I’m learning from Dr. Sung in practice. I’m curious to see how this combination of structured learning and modern tools can help build long-term understanding and turn abstract curiosity into real knowledge.
