Brain Hacks: How to Get a Healthy Brain
What you'll learn
- Describe the anatomy of brain cells.
- Explain how brain cells communicate.
- Learn the basic anatomy of the brain.
- Differentiate neuromyths from actual research findings in neuroscience.
- Learn correct interpretations and applications of neuroscience research.
- Explain what the macronutrients are and how they affect the brain.
- Explain what the micronutrients are and how they affect the brain.
- Describe how sugar influences the brain.
- Discuss the effects that caffeine and alcohol have on the brain.
- Learn about different types of exercise and how they can change the structure of your brain.
- Evaluate the role of different cognitive activities in preventing brain aging.
- Examine how meditation can change the brain.
- Discover strategies for behavioral change that can help you change your lifestyle.
Requirements
- You'll need software to view the course videos and download a couple of PDF files.
Description
This course is designed to help you learn about how your brain works and how you can keep it healthy. You will learn how to eat for your brain, how to exercise for your brain, and how to engage in challenging cognitive activities that will improve the function and health of your brain.
Learn to Make your Brain Healthier through Nutrition, Exercise, and Cognition.
- Discover the basics of neuroanatomy and how the brain regulates and controls behavior.
- Learn how carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals affect the brain.
- Find out how exercise can change the way your brain works.
- Explore how different cognitive activities, including meditation, can influence your brain across the lifespan.
You will learn how to take care of your brain so that it will take care of you later.
The course will address some basics of neuroanatomy and discuss activities you can engage in to keep your brain healthy. You will learn how food, exercise, and cognitive activity have the power to change your brain. We'll discuss the effects of sugar on the brain. We'll look at how aerobic exercise can help you grow new brain cells. Finally, you'll get introduced to the types of cognitive activities that are most beneficial for the brain (hint: its not crossword puzzles).
Never taken a course on the brain? Intimidated by neuroanatomy? No problem... This course is designed to make complex research on the brain more accessible to you. Through video lectures and readings you will become an expert on the brain in about 1 month. Additionally, you will learn healthy practices to increase the function of your brain now and throughout your lifespan. These skills will make you more efficient and they will help you fight the effects of aging.
Who this course is for:
- Individuals looking to increase their brain power through healthy activities.
- Individuals interested in the brain and healthy aging.
- Individuals interested in learning how nutrition, exercise and cognitive activity can change their brain.
Instructor
![Gina Mitchell](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64"%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=avatar}
- 4.2 Instructor Rating
- 9 Reviews
- 102 Students
- 1 Course
As a professor of psychology, I am interested in many facets of behavior. My specialization is in neuropsychology. This means I study the brain to examine where behavior comes from. This biological approach to psychology is important because the brain is the organ that controls and regulates our behavior. By understanding how the brain works, we can gain a better understanding of behavior.
With these ideas in mind, I have been teaching psychology for 8 years. After earning my PhD from Virginia Tech in 2006, I began my career at Adams State University in Alamosa, CO. I taught in the classroom for 4 years and then moved to online teaching, where I have been for the last 4 years. In the last year, I have also been teaching and developing courses for Southern New Hampshire University. As an online instructor, I have learned the roles that interaction and student relationships play in learning. I have also become skilled at communicating with students from a distance.
Teaching online has afforded me a number of opportunities to learn and grow as an instructor. I have had the ability to develop a variety of courses that look at different aspects of behavior with respect to the brain. Some of my courses include Brain and Behavior, Drugs, Society, and Behavior, and Introduction to Neuroscience and Education. I also recently wrote a book on the principles of learning and the brain - it is currently being published!
Teaching online has also afforded me the opportunity to be at home with my young children. I have a 2 year old daughter and a 4 year old son. We live on our family potato farm in southern Colorado. The areas is very rural, but we are able to enjoy lots of great outdoor hobbies including, hiking, camping, gardening and skiing.