Explore Learning Zone Resources for brain-based skill development

What is the optimal length of a learning session? What happens in the brain when go beyond our focus limits? These are common questions for trainers and learning designers trying to balance depth, focus, and learner engagement.

In this video, Dr Andrew Huberman explains why the brain responds best to learning in focused 90-minute windows. Rather than pushing through with longer sessions that drive fatigue, this approach works with the natural rhythms of the brain.

During a 90-minute learning session, the brain activates key signalling molecules that drive Neuroplasticity and long-term memory. These include CREB, ERK and MAPK, and BDNF. Together, they support the process of rewiring neural pathways and strengthening learning. Once the 90-minute window closes, those biochemical signals begin to fade, making it harder to absorb and retain new information.

The Huberman Lab Neuroplasticity Super Protocol reinforces the value of 90-minute learning bouts followed by rest. Focused effort paired with breaks allows the brain to consolidate learning and recover. In contrast, long blocks of continuous content overload attention and reduce the likelihood that learning will stick.

What does this mean for training design? It means shorter, well-structured sessions that prioritise focus over volume. It also means resisting the temptation to cram more content and time into learning sessions.

The science is clear, use it to design and deliver learning experiences that respect the brain’s natural processes. When you align session length with how learning actually works, you improve retention, reduce fatigue, and create learning that lasts well beyond the session.

Check out our brain-friendly 90-minute courses.

Learning should be a natural and effective experience, yet many learning and development professionals feel frustrated when training fails to translate into real learning. Too often, well designed sessions overlook how the brain actually learns, leading to disengagement and poor retention.

In this video, Dr Joe Pulichino from Navex Engage introduces the AGES model of learning: Attention, Generation, Emotion, and Spacing. Together, these elements explain how learning is encoded, strengthened, and retained over time, rather than forgotten soon after the session ends.

Attention is limited. Most learners can only focus for short periods before mental fatigue sets in. Well designed training respects this reality by building in breaks and variation. These pauses reduce overload, prevent boredom, and allow the brain to continue processing without exhaustion.

Generation helps learning stick by encouraging learners to actively connect new ideas to what they already know. When people make meaning for themselves, retention improves and understanding deepens.

Emotion also plays a critical role. When training connects to what matters to learners, motivation increases and learning becomes more memorable.

Spacing, combined with repetition and retrieval, protects learning from rapid decay. Revisiting ideas over time creates productive struggle, strengthens neural connections, and builds mastery. The video also highlights the importance of reinforcing purpose. When learners understand why the training matters and how they will use it, engagement rises and learning becomes more durable.

This video offers practical insights for designing training that works with the brain and delivers lasting impact.

For more information, on how to incorporate the AGES model into learning design and delivery see our article: Making Learning Stick with the AGES Model

Learning nudges are short, well-timed prompts designed to keep learning alive beyond the training session. They show up after the workshop, not during it. A reminder. A question. A quick activity. Small signals that encourage learners to pause, recall, and apply what they have learned.

At their core, learning nudges work with the brain, not against it. We know that learning fades quickly without reinforcement. Nudges interrupt that forgetting curve by reactivating memory at the right moment. They prompt retrieval, strengthen neural connections, and make learning easier to access when it is needed at work.

Learning nudges can take many forms. A follow-up email with reflective questions or a video. A short scenario sent a week later. A prompt in a team meeting. Even a quick reminder to try one behaviour before the next check-in. They are simple by design, but powerful when used consistently.

The benefits are clear. Learning nudges improve recall, support behaviour change, and increase the likelihood that training is applied on the job. They help move learning from the training room into daily practice, without adding heavy workload for learners or facilitators.

In this video, Catherine from The Virtual Training Team explains what learning nudges are, how they work, and why they are such an effective tool for learning transfer. If you want training to stick and deliver real outcomes, this is a great place to start.

Jim Kwik reveals 5 brain exercises to improve memory, boost focus, and enhance concentration for better learning and productivity.

Alongside these five powerful exercises, it’s important to understand how daily habits and small adjustments can further strengthen memory and concentration. Simple practices such as setting aside regular study or focus times, minimizing digital distractions, and creating a calm environment can significantly improve mental clarity.

Incorporating active recall, where you test yourself on what you’ve just learned helps reinforce new knowledge more effectively than passive reading. Pairing this with spaced repetition, reviewing information at intervals over days or weeks, makes it easier to store knowledge in long-term memory.

Lifestyle choices also play a crucial role. Adequate sleep, a balanced diet, and regular hydration provide the brain with the fuel it needs to perform at its best. Even light physical activity such as stretching, walking, or breathing exercises increases blood flow, which boosts focus and reduces mental fatigue.

When practiced consistently, these strategies complement Jim Kwik’s exercises and create a holistic approach to brain training. Over time, they not only enhance learning but also support greater productivity, creativity, and confidence in daily life.

Check out our Facilitator’s Checklist to Keeping Learners In The Zone.