This  paper  describes  how  English  as  a  Foreign  Language  (EFL)  teachers  can  bring  reliable, valid, user-friendly assessment into their classrooms, and thus improve the quality of learning that  occurs  there.  Based  on  the  experience  of  the  author  as  a  an  EFL  teacher  and  teacher-trainer, it is suggested that the promotion and development of autonomy, intrinsic motivation...

  Using small groups in teaching and learning has a long history. Evidence suggests that by applying some defined guidelines, it would be possible to reinforce the effectiveness of the small groups teaching. One of these guidelines is related to ice-breaker activities which would be applied by the facilitators at the start of the session, which are noticeably significant. The aim of the presen...

Cortisol, the primary glucocorticoid (GC) in humans, influences neuronal excitability and plasticity by acting on mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors. Cellular studies demonstrated that elevated GC levels affect neuronal plasticity, for example through a reduction of hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). At the behavioural level, after treatment with GCs, numerous studies have re...

Long-term potentiation (LTP), a relatively long-lived increase in synaptic strength, remains the mot popular model for the cellular process that may underlie information storage within neural systems. The strongest arguments for a role of LTP in memory are theoretical and involve Hebb's Postulate, Marr's theory of hippocampal function, and neural network theory. Considering LTP research as a wh...

It is widely believed that the brain processes information and stores memories by modifying and stabilizing synaptic connections between neurons. In experimental models of synaptic plasticity, such as long-term potentiation (LTP), the stabilization of changes in synaptic strength requires rapid de novo RNA and protein synthesis. Candidate genes, which could underlie activity-dependent plasticit...

introduction: lower level of estrogen hormone is considered as an important factor for loss of learning and memory in postmenopausal women. although estrogen replacement therapy is used for compensation, but long-term usage of estrogen is associated with a higher risk of hormonedependent cancers. phytoestrogens, due to fewer side effects, have been proposed to prevent menopause-related cognitiv...