Tuning into brainwave rhythms speeds up learning in adults, study finds

Scientists have shown for the first time that briefly tuning into a person's individual brainwave cycle before they perform a learning task dramatically boosts the speed at which cognitive skills improve. Calibrating rates of information delivery to match the natural tempo of our brains increases our capacity to absorb and adapt to new information, according to the team behind the study. University of Cambridge researchers say that these techniques could help us retain "neuroplasticity" much later in life and advance lifelong learning. "Each brain has its own natural rhythm, generated by the oscillation of neurons working together," said Prof Zoe Kourtzi, senior author of the study from Cambridge's Department of Psychology. "We simulated these fluctuations so the brain is in tune with itself – and in the best state to flourish."