• High challenges, intrinsically motivated. (not too hard, not too easy, own relevant choice)
• Low Stress, general relaxation (not No stress, minimal stress)
• Immersed "flow' state: attention on learning and doing (not self conscious or evaluative)

Csikszentmihalyi describes the optimal state as 'flow' when skills, attention, environment and will are all matched up with the task. In this state learning is enjoyable and learners are highly internally motivated. The Psychology of Optimal Experience. Csikszentmihalyi, M & Isabelle.

Expectancies about the relative utility of the information extracted during the parallel and focused phases was the key determiner on how successfully learners responded. The so-called 'top' learners often expected to get the most out of a class and they usually do. Those who learn less often expect less.  (Gratton and fellow researchers.)

Posture affects learning. A contracted slumped over learner will learn less because slumped over posture impairs optimal breathing and directs the eyes downward.

Learners sitting in slumped over positions are getting insufficient oxygen and blood flow. Sitting on the Job. Scott Donkin

Where your eyes look directs the brain to certain senses. For 90% of right handed learners, looking up and to the left allows you to access stored pictures, (visual recall). Looking to the right is where your eyes usually go to create new pictures, looking ahead, eyes to the left accesses stored sounds and to the right creating new sounds. Looking down and to the left is for internal dialogue,(talking to yourself) and to the right is for feelings. Left handers usually use opposite patterns.

A student whose eyes wander around during test time,may actually be searching within his brain for answers.

Ask someone where they parked their car, and watch their eyes move as they search their brain for an answer. You may see that they used the part of the brain linked to visual recall.

Oxygen for the Brain. Researchers at Florida University found that dolpins exchange nearly 90% of their oxygen each time they surface, stale air is exhaled and replaced with fresh oxygen. Classroom learners on the other hand exchange between 10% and 25% of their lung's capacity with each breath taken. The human brain which thrives on oxygen, is often starved for it.