Ever felt like you’re learning without truly understanding?

Metacognition (thinking about our thinking) may be the missing piece.

Findings from neuroscience and cognitive science suggest the brain is not a single, indivisible organ but a collection of networks with the capacity to think about its own thinking — or look in on itself!

Such self-reflection–known as metacognition–boosts our mental skills in all sorts of situations, especially when acquiring knowledge and expertise.

While there was a time when we believed that rote learning–memorizing information based on repetition–was the path to good education, it now appears insufficient for our rapidly changing world, where we constantly need to get to grips with new ideas.

Instead, science has uncovered the power of the reflective mind to help us adapt to the environment. After all, in an ever-changing world where people live longer, change jobs more frequently, and need new skills almost daily, learning needs to be lifelong.

Understanding metacognition and using our reflection skills can help us enhance our ability to acquire the skills we need throughout life, improve our decision-making, and what and when to learn, says Stephen Fleming, a leading expert in neuroscience.