Offered in partnership with the Neuroscience Academy, this is a foundational course in applied neuroscience for professionals working in the fields of human behaviour, mental health, and wellbeing.
Discover Neuroscience
Master basic brain anatomy & physiology + the neurobiology of stress, emotion, cognition, development & ageing.
Explore the mind, brain & behaviour
Gain insights into brain plasticity, habits & motivation, intuition, resilience, gut-brain health & nutrition, sleep & social connection.
Implement brain science
Use evidence-based tools for mental wellbeing & healthy ageing to help yourself & the people you work with flourish.
How do you use neuroscience to help others?
If you're a mental health worker, therapist, coach or educator you'll know brain science can change the lives of the people you work with.
Neuroscience explanations can be powerful and persuasive tools for change. But, as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility—so brain science must be used wisely!
The Neuroscience Academy Self Study Program in Applied Neuroscience & Brain Health provides you a solid non-hyped introduction to the field of applied neuroscience—with a particular focus on evidence-based tools & strategies apply to your work.
Enrolment in the Self Study program will give you IMMEDIATE & LIFETIME access to:
- 17 video modules delivered in bite-sized chunks (see below for the topics you will cover).
- Summary notes and worksheets for every lesson. You’ll always have handy access to the most important concepts from each lesson.
- An extensive hand-picked library of resources, including open-access research papers, books, TEDx talks, articles, and interviews.
- Step-by-step guides on how to source, read, and understand scientific research articles.
- A growing library of in-depth interviews with academics and experts in gut-brain health, positive psychology in coaching, education, and healthy ageing.
Introduction to Health Neuroscience
You’ll take a look at the seductive allure of neuroscience. You’ll be introduced to a foundational model of the course, the Bottom-Up Outside-In Top-Down framework. Sarah will give you clarity around what neuroscience can and can’t tell us about ourselves, and you’ll learn essential tips to tease out neuro-fact from neuro-fiction.
Overview of Nervous System Anatomy
Sarah will take you on a whistle-stop tour through the brain to the peripheral, autonomic and enteric (gut) nervous systems. You’ll learn a ‘handy’ way to discuss brain anatomy with clients, and we’ll discuss what the mind is and where it might be found.
Neurons, Synapses and Neural Communication
In this lesson, you’ll take a look at the nuts and bolts of how neurons communicate electrically and chemically. You’ll understand how synapses function and all about neurotransmitter systems. Finally, you'll learn simple and relevant ways to communicate this information with others.
Changing Brains and Minds.
Can your thoughts really rewire your brain? Do we produce new brain cells throughout life? What are synaptogenesis, neurogenesis, and cortical reorganisation, and when, where and why do they occur? You’ll learn the second foundational model of the course, the REFIRE method.
The Cognitive Brain
You’ll receive a simple overview of the prefrontal cortex and its role in cognition (thinking). You’ll learn how the brain pays attention, makes decisions, and why it can’t multi-task. You’ll take a look at how emotions and thinking are intimately intertwined, and how to foster metacognition (thinking about thinking) in the people you work with.
In this lesson, we’ll continue our exploration of how thinking and feeling are entwined. We’ll dig into the contemporary neuroscience of emotions. Finally you'll receive a primer in the neurobiology of anxiety and depression.
The Neuroscience of Motivation
You’ll get clear on the neuroscience of motivation. And you’ll be introduced to another foundation model ‘The Will, the Wont and the Way’. We’ll discuss mental rehearsal or visualisation, and revise the latest research on fixed and growth mindsets.
Changing Brains and Minds.
Can your thoughts really rewire your brain? Do we produce new brain cells throughout life? What are synaptogenesis, neurogenesis, and cortical reorganisation, and when, where and why do they occur? You’ll learn the second foundational model of the course, the REFIRE method.
The Mind-Body Connection
Can you really change your health by changing your thoughts? We’ll discuss evidence from mind-body medicine research. We’ll take a look at the amazing power of placebo (and its ‘dark side’, the nocebo effect) and how it directly relates to the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Finally, we’ll look at psychoneuroimmunology and the neuroscience of the mind-brain-immune connection.
The Ageing Brain
We’ll consider the neuroscience of brain ageing. Is memory loss inevitable with age? You’ll get clear on what the research says about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia (and the difference between the two). Learn why ageing is also about growing in experience, wisdom and judgment. You’ll discover the difference between normal memory lapses and memory problems that need to be addressed by a medical professional.
The Neuroscience of Creativity and Insight
Explore the concept of flow and how it turns everyday experiences into an opportunity for self-fulfilment and mental wellbeing. Learn how to foster creativity, and what happens in your client’s brain during insight or ‘aha’ moments.
Brain Health and Physical Exercise
Get clear on why the best exercise for the brain is physical exercise. We’ll discuss the relationship between exercise, mood and mental health, and we’ll take a look at how exercise promotes neuroplasticity and slows brain ageing.
Nutrition and the Gut-Brain Connection.
Examine the current evidence on the best diet for brain health. We’ll also explore the research on the gut-brain-microbiome connection. And we’ll take a look at brain ‘super-foods’, and the effects of sugar, coffee, grains and alcohol on the brain—what does the research say?
Belief and Belonging.
Our brain has a fundamental need to connect and understanding this is vital to your work. We learn how friends and family impact cognitive reserve and take a look at research showing that having passion and purpose protects against brain ageing.
Stress, Mindfulness, and Meditation.
This lesson has been designed to look at the neurobiology of the stress response, and the best ways we know to buffer stress. We’ll examine what neuroscience says about meditation, and how it affects brain structure and function.
Brain Health and Mental Exercise.
What is cognitive reserve and why is building it useful? What does the research say about computer-based cognitive brain-training? Take a look at evidence why you should partner with your client to become their brain-training coach.
Join The Neuroscience Self Study Program.
Get a head-start on using neuroscience, wisely.
$995 AUD
(includes GST in Australia)
This program is offered by Dr. Sarah McKay trading as Think Brain Pty Ltd and The Neuroscience Academy. People Builders may receive a referral commission. When you click on this button you will be taken to their website to complete your enrolment. Please ensure you read the Terms & Conditions on their page before making your purchase. The program is also delivered on the Kajabi platform so you will be able to access it on your smart phone app or their website.
