Results of the Neural and Physiological Basis of Learning through Productive Failure

Abstract

Productive Failure (PF) is a learning design wherein learners generate solutions for novel problems prior to formal instruction. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of PF, indicating cognitive mechanisms for why students learn better after encountering difficulties. However, neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning “learning from failure” have yet to be explored, despite robust evidence connecting neural activity, heartbeats, and cognitive processes. The present study explores neural and physiological mechanisms underlying PF, employing neural signature and heartrate variability measurements.