With deteriorating health, particularly brain health, occurring at a global level, this course introduces you to methods for maximizing your brain's fitness through nutrition, exercise, meditation, and sleep. We'll debunk popular myths about prescribed practices for overall health and then uncover studies from the last few decades revealing practical routines and interventions that are proven to help improve the brain. You'll also get a glimpse at the brain's structure and common brain functions, as well as a "prescription" each week of tips for improving your brain's health.
In this first week, you'll get a simple primer on the brain before diving into the history of nutrition and landmark studies on certain diets that can improve brain health.
During our second week, we'll uncover what exercise does to the brain (including physical and mental exercises) and look at human and animal research that provides us with these insights.
What's included
7 videos2 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
7 videos•Total 40 minutes
The Physiology of Exercise•6 minutes
Animal Studies•4 minutes
Healthy Brains•7 minutes
Impaired Brains•4 minutes
Cognitive Training•5 minutes
[OPTIONAL] Interview with Dr. Lydia Fazzio•13 minutes
Your "Prescription"•1 minute
2 readings•Total 85 minutes
Physical Inactivity, Mice, BDNF•25 minutes
Physical & Cognitive Exercise•60 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Practice•30 minutes
Week 2•30 minutes
Meditation and the Brain
Module 3•4 hours to complete
Module details
For our third week, we'll uncover the neuroscience behind meditation and mindfulness and recognize the effects of meditation on brain activity and brain structure.
What's included
8 videos3 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
8 videos•Total 64 minutes
Meditation & Mindfulness•4 minutes
The Scientific Study of Meditation•4 minutes
Meditation & Brain Structure•3 minutes
Meditation & Brain Activity•5 minutes
Meditation, Emotions, & the Immune System•2 minutes
The Benefits of Meditation•4 minutes
[OPTIONAL] Interview with Dr. Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi•41 minutes
Your "Prescription"•1 minute
3 readings•Total 122 minutes
What Is Mindfulness?•2 minutes
Meditation's Effects•60 minutes
Meditation Resources•60 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Practice•30 minutes
Week 3•30 minutes
Sleep and the Brain
Module 4•3 hours to complete
Module details
In this final week, we'll look at how sleep works as an active process in the brain, assess the effects of sleep deprivation, and consider helpful practices for improved sleep and brain health.
What's included
6 videos3 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 26 minutes
Normal Sleep Physiology•4 minutes
The Biology of Waking and Sleeping•4 minutes
What Happens During Sleep?•4 minutes
Chronic Diseases•5 minutes
Reviewing The Data•5 minutes
Your "Prescription"•4 minutes
3 readings•Total 85 minutes
Functions of Sleep•30 minutes
Sleep Questionnaires•15 minutes
Sleep Disorders and Healthy Sleep•40 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Practice•30 minutes
Week 4•30 minutes
Instructor
Instructor ratings
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We asked all learners to give feedback on our instructors based on the quality of their teaching style.
Emory University, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of the world's leading research universities. Its mission is to create, preserve, teach and apply knowledge in the service of humanity.
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Learner reviews
4.7
1,445 reviews
5 stars
76.41%
4 stars
17.91%
3 stars
3.94%
2 stars
1.10%
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Showing 3 of 1445
J
JF
5·
Reviewed on Sep 6, 2021
I really enjoyed this course. I completed all the assignments and practice tests. I did not purchase the course, only audited it. Is this why it shows that I have not completed?
C
CG
4·
Reviewed on Jul 26, 2022
Good course but unfortunately requires payement for tests which was not disclosed at the start of I wouldn't have bothered. Please take this as completed because I'm NOT paying.
D
DM
4·
Reviewed on May 7, 2019
Very enjoyable, good information presented in an easy to digest manner. A few errors, slips of tongue that should have been caught before publishing, but they are not common.
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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.