The biggest challenge for PhD students after the age of 35 is to transform a large amount of information, since it is usually tedious. However, thanks to neuro-reading, a methodology based on observations and discoveries from neuroscience that trains your brain to achieve good results in reading, it will no longer be so cumbersome, even making it easier to remember everything you read.
Studies have shown that students who practice neuro-reading techniques acquire a retention capacity of 40%, compared to other reading methods, according to the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, 2023.
For this reason, in doctoral studies, it is more important to take advantage of every hour invested because it is about retaining, understanding, and processing information in order to transform it into useful knowledge. Due to the large amount of information processed daily, such as technical documents, scientific articles, and book chapters, it is key to apply a technique that provides advantages when studying.
Let us remember that neuro-reading is based on the functioning of the human brain, optimizing attention, connection of ideas, and memory, leaving behind those traditional techniques such as summarizing and underlining.
Neuro-reading is a combination of three contributions: pedagogy, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience. These aim to understand reading and improve its process, aligning how one reads, how it is processed in the brain, and how information is stored.
Likewise, neuro-reading studies the brain to see how it reads, understands, and remembers processed and written information, to facilitate learning and, in general, studying with greater advantage. It mainly consists, in addition to reading faster, of:
The neuro-reading method is based on neuroscientific principles, which explain the processing of written information. Several principles can be described, such as attention, which is when concentration is fixed on what is relevant; memory, which facilitates recall and retention of what has been read; comprehension, which connects and makes sense of all texts; and emotions, which influence the connection and motivation of information. Below is an explanation of some of the neuroscientific principles or foundations:
1. Selective attention: This is when the brain processes only the information to which it pays deep attention.
2. Spaced repetition: One remembers more when reviewing is spaced out over time.
3. Multisensory encoding: When reading is combined with verbalization of concepts, visualization, and written notes. For example, creating concept maps or reading aloud is very favorable for good retention.
4. Neuroplasticity: This refers to the fact that the adult brain is always creating connections. For this, it is recommended to read actively and at the same time critique what is read, strengthening neural networks and allowing for better analysis.
In Social Sciences, research related to education can apply neuro-reading to make comparisons with pedagogical theories. It can even formulate questions and give oral explanations of important points, which reinforces conceptual memory.
In engineering and technology, the pre-scan can be applied, thus reducing cognitive overload when working with complex formulas.
Health sciences and medicine: For these professions, it is effective to use spaced repetition to memorize neural pathways.
In the Humanities, neuro-reading is very useful for text analysis, dialogical reading, and connecting information between various currents of thought.
Readwise: allows you to extract quotes from texts and makes reminders through daily emails for spaced repetition. Also, Notion + Zettelkasten helps organize connected notes and multisensory encoding.
Likewise, MindMeister or Miro can turn readings into concept maps, thus helping to improve retention and visualization.
1. Productivity: The American Educational Research Association conducted a study in 2023, which showed that students who practice neuro-reading complete their readings 25% faster than those who do not practice it.
2. Creativity for research: With the large number of neuronal connections, many hypotheses arise that favor research.
3. Less academic stress: By retaining more, the student feels less overloaded.
4. Academic writing with solid arguments: When one understands and retains more, the result is better thesis articles with well-founded and well-structured arguments.
Keeping the mind trained after the PhD is important to stay professionally updated in different fields. Reading and remembering better today is an advantage to respond to a labor market that requires continuous learning.
Currently, the ability to learn how to learn has become a highly valued skill in professionals, and neuro-reading is a tool that can help maintain that ability. The World Economic Forum report, 2024, highlights this behavior demonstrated in the workplace.
Reading to achieve better research results is an investment to achieve those proposed goals. This is where neuro-reading plays its important role in generating the desired impact. After practicing this method, each reading will become a valuable experience.
With neuro-reading, the brain exercises produce new connections and strengthen, which makes the difference in a PhD with limited time and high demands. It can make a brilliant impact by turning readings into knowledge that transforms.