About this Course

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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.

Learner Career Outcomes

20%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

25%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English, German, Japanese

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.59/5 (253 Ratings)

Karima Benameur, MD

Assistant Professor

Department of Neurology, School of Medicine

62,649 Learners

1 Course

Learner Career Outcomes

20%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

25%

got a pay increase or promotion

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English, German, Japanese

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(4,283 ratings)

Week

1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Nutrition and the Brain

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.

3 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 50 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes

13 videos

Course Introduction1m

Structural Anatomy of Our Brains4m

Functional Anatomy of Our Brains7m

Neurological Diseases & Nutritional Health3m

The History of Nutritional Research, 1950s-1980s5m

The History of Nutritional Research, 1980s-Present4m

What Happens When We Eat5m

Insulin Resistance & Effects on the Brain3m

The Myth About Supplements2m

The Mediterranean Diet3m

The Ketogenic Diet3m

Intermittent Fasting3m

Your "Prescription"59s

5 readings

Course Outline and Grading Information2m

Brain Structure & Brain Activity [Handout]2m

Nutritional Research & Global Health45m

Insulin Resistance20m

Diet Resources30m

2 practice exercises

Practice30m

Week 130m

Week

2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Exercise and the Brain

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.

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 40 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

7 videos

The Physiology of Exercise5m

Animal Studies3m

Healthy Brains6m

Impaired Brains4m

Cognitive Training5m

[OPTIONAL] Interview with Dr. Lydia Fazzio13m

Your "Prescription"57s

2 readings

Physical Inactivity, Mice, BDNF25m

Physical & Cognitive Exercise1h

2 practice exercises

Practice30m

Week 230m

Week

3

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Meditation and the Brain

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.

4 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 64 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

8 videos

Meditation & Mindfulness4m

The Scientific Study of Meditation3m

Meditation & Brain Structure3m

Meditation & Brain Activity4m

Meditation, Emotions, & the Immune System1m

The Benefits of Meditation3m

[OPTIONAL] Interview with Dr. Geshe Lobsang Tenzin Negi41m

Your "Prescription"1m

3 readings

What Is Mindfulness?2m

Meditation's Effects1h

Meditation Resources1h

2 practice exercises

Practice30m

Week 330m

Week

4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Sleep and the Brain

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.

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 26 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

6 videos

Normal Sleep Physiology3m

The Biology of Waking and Sleeping4m

What Happens During Sleep?3m

Chronic Diseases5m

Reviewing The Data5m

Your "Prescription"4m

3 readings

Functions of Sleep30m

Sleep Questionnaires15m

Sleep Disorders and Healthy Sleep40m

2 practice exercises

Practice30m

Week 430m

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You’ll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. Learn more.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Biohacking Your Brain's Health