Advocating for playful classrooms: The neuroscience behind joy

The connection between joy and learning has been studied with increased interest (Curgdorf & Panksepp, 2006; Soderqvist et al., 2011; Solis et al., 2017). Joy in humans (there have also been animal studies) is regulated by the subcortical limbic networks (see yellow areas in the figure below). These limbic networks are associated with our emotions — fun fact: this is true in animal studies as well. Likewise, the areas of the brain responsible for higher order thinking (Blooms’ analyzing, synthesizing, creating) respond to the experiences of emotion — they are connected, so to speak. In the late 1990s and into the early 2000s, emotions were thought to be secondary to thinking. Emotions were sub-par. Consider the No Child Left Behind legislation and the rise of Microsoft Powerpoint. Drill and test became the rule for teaching. Standardization was king (sadly, it still is in many schools. Thank you, capitalism and the test company market.) But, the dawn of realization has hit and neuroscientific research has revealed that cognition and emotion are interconnected (Immordino-Yang & Damasio, 2007; Solis et al., 2017). To consider cognition and emotion as separate entities is as inaccurate a view as it is misleading.

Image of medial view of the brain and the areas related to the five characteristics of playful learning (Claire Liu, S. Lynneth Solis, Hanne Jensen, Emily Hopkins, Dave Neale, Jennifer Zosh, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, & David Whitebread)

We now know that emotions play a crucial role in facilitating rational thought, acting as an “emotional rudder” that steers our decision-making processes. Among the myriad of emotions that enhance our learning capabilities, JOY stands out as one of the most powerful. This emotion is linked to significant changes in brain networks, particularly through the release of dopamine, which regulates reward, pleasure, and our actions related to these rewards. This reward mechanism leads to cognitive benefits, such as improved attention, working memory, mental flexibility, and better stress regulation. In essence, joy — and the dopamine associated with pleasurable experiences — can significantly enhance our ability to process and retain information, creating something akin to neural fireworks in the brain. This part about dopamine is pretty interesting. Let’s break it down for each of the benefits mentioned above.

Memory. Various studies involving mice improved the animal’s recall of a task (McNamara et al., 2014). In this particular study, the midbrain of the mice was stimulated (dopamine inducing) while they were placed in new spatial environments. What resulted was an increase in activity in the hippocampus (the brain’s center for memory and learning) which appeared to improve recall. After repetition, researchers saw similar and easier activation of the hippocampus during a resting state. Why does this matter? Think encoding (learning) and recalling (automaticity). The mice were able to do it better, all thanks to the neurotransmitter we call dopamine. Joy in learning worked. Awesome.

Mental shifting. When dopamine is present, studies reveal the activated brain regions working together to allow us to focus on information that is relevant to our goals. We can decide what parts to focus on and plan our behavior accordingly. So, dopamine (wearing a super hero cape this time, likely) can help with the mental shifting or cognitive flexibility required as we consider our focus for learning and goal attainment (Vincent, Kahn, Snyder, Raichle, & Buckner, 2008; Dang et al., 2012; Solis et al., 2017).

Motivation and curiosity. Joy is often spontaneous. Mary Oliver, Pulitzer prize winning poet, writes of joy in her prose poem Don’t Hesitate: “If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it.” We lean in, influenced by curiosity and intrinsic motivation — although that’s far less poetic a sentence. But we do get to see this influence in the form of neural-poetry. fMRI results indicate that the more we anticipate a positive outcome (intrinsic motivation), the more able we are to retain the information that follows. Eventually, with repeated joyful learning, we are able to anticipate the learning to come, thus priming the brain for maximum content absorption (Kang et al., 2009; Gruber, Gelman, & Ranganath, 2014; Solis et al., 2017; Weisberg, Hirsh-Pasek, Golinkoff, & McCandliss, 2014).

Creativity. There is a fun correlation between dopamine and the neural processes for creative thinking. Though scientists are exploring how and why the link between dopamine and working memory exists, we know it is present because both are activated simultaneously. This suggestion makes practical sense for now — we therefore make the assumption that joyful experiences are connected to creative thinking (Solis et al., 2017; Takeuchi et al., 2010).

Plasticity. No, not milk jugs. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to adapt, rewire, and learn. Our brains change as we grow and learn. This understanding should question every IQ test you’ve ever considered (more on the questionable history of these assessments in The Playful Classroom, also by this author). I digress. There is evidence to suggest joyful learning experiences can influence plasticity. As we encounter new information and environmental stimuli, our brains adjust. Now we know that joyful experiences increase dopamine levels, which also increases our ability to adapt or LEARN (Nelson, 2017; Soderqvist et al., 2011; Solis et al., 2017).

Storytime with JOY.

Once upon a time, Alex, a high schooler with a trending hairstyle and baggy shorts, found math to be daunting. Equations eluded her understanding, and Alex always approached class with anxiety. On this sunny Tuesday, Alex’s math teacher, Mx. Rivers, decided today’s learning experience would include a scavenger hunt around the school. Math puzzles in the form of quadratic equations were hidden in different locations, and solving one would be the clue to unlock the next location — a learning experience that required teamwork and creativity to solve.

Students buzzed with excitement, and Alex became curious. The first puzzle involved calculating angles to direct a paper airplane to fly the farthest. Laughter and friendly competition started this mathematical scavenger hunt. Alex (and her peers) experienced a rush of dopamine, activating their hippocampus (memory) and enhancing their memory recall. Formulas that were once overwhelming began to make sense in context. This JOYful learning atmosphere was infectious. Moving from location to location, Alex recognized how quickly she could connect ideas and felt her math perspective shift from dread to excitement (mental shifting).

In the days following this math class experience, Alix noticed the JOY lingered and she began to engage more in class, asking questions and even supporting her peer learners (plasticity). The lightbulb moment of JOY as part of the learning process gave Alex confidence and a newfound love for learning, at least the beginning of it in math.

As a play ambassador for the US Play Coalition, I’m passionate about sharing the power of play for wellness and overall happy lives. As you continue to seek answers to your own questions on play, you might be interested in the following articles:
- Advocate for student autonomy with personalized learning playlists
- This is your brain on music
- Why adults need playdates: The science behind the emotional benefits of play

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