John Medina

Your Best Brain

John Medina

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  • In-depth Instruction; over 771 mins
  • On-demand video access anytime
  • Bonus downloadable PDF resources
  • Access to class Q&A
Meet John Medina and begin your journey with a tour of the world's most sophisticated survival organ: the human brain. Establish some common language and principles for understanding and exploring the human brain.
What makes the human brain so different from the brains of other animals? Explore the brain's evolutionary journey, discover the unique ability that allowed humans to not only survive in the face of change, but to thrive.
In this lesson, investigate the physical structure of the brain, including the three overall regions within it and the role each has in keeping you alive. And, learn about the brain's internal "consciousness switch."
Dive deeper into the physical structure of the brain by examining the three primary types of neuron wiring. Find out how they operate on a cellular level, plus how the brain is able to create new connections and pathways.
Take a look at the challenges of measuring and quantifying intelligence, including the problem with IQ tests. Understand how researchers currently think about intelligence and the implications these ideas have on the way we design school curricula.
Discover the surprising evolutionary purpose of memory. Find out what causes our brains to forget facts and data, and why. Plus, get three research-based tips to improve your memory.
What makes people creative? Scientists believe it may hinge on two contrasting elements: open-mindedness and deep focus. Explore the neuroscience of creativity, the significance of working memory in the creative process. And, learn how you can boost your creative output.
The objective reality of the world around you and what your body senses are two very different things. Examine the three-step process the body uses to create sensations in response to outside stimuli. Then, learn a simple trick for using your senses to boost your ability to remember facts.
We often think of vision as being like a video camera: our eyes take a picture and that's what we see. But that's not how the brain works. Uncover the complex process the brain uses to construct the hallucination that is our sense of vision.
Investigate the physical process behind emotions, including the neurological "fast path" that accelerates our reaction to external threats.
Your senses bombard your brain with far more information than it can possibly handle at once. How does your brain prioritize all of the input? Discover the brain's ability to act as a "central executive" and see how it uses emotion like sticky notes to decide what’s important.
Explore the brain's "pleasure highway" with a tour of what drives the sensation of pleasure in our brains. Understand how video games and other substances hijack this process to create addictions. Afterwards, learn how to harness your brain's craving for pleasure to break nearly any habit.
Is happiness sustainable? What makes some people happier than others, despite similar life circumstances? Learn the stories of two lottery winners: one who crashed and another who thrived. And, discover two key areas you can focus on to create a happier life.
Unravel the brain’s ability to respond to stress on a neurological and chemical level. See what neuroscience research has to say about how to reduce stress in your life by learning to control it.
Reflect on the joys and risks of relating to others. Consider what a recent business school experiment uncovered about how you can more easily resolve conflicts.
Explore the development stages of an infant from a neuroscientific perspective, including what science recommends to ensure that your kids eat their veggies.
Peer into the often mysterious behavior of a teenager. Why do they take the risks they do? What makes them rebellious? Why are they so moody? Get seven practical tips for relating better to teenagers, whether you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, mentor or coach.
Dive into the evolutionary roles of sex, arousal and promiscuity. Discover the fascinating biological and cultural differences between men and women when it comes to sex. Peer inside an enlightening study involving monkeys, naked men on the beach and naked women doing aerobics.
Discover what science has demonstrated about why some age more gracefully than others, and what you can do to keep your mind sharp as you grow older.
Why do we grieve the loss of loved ones? Is there an evolutionary reason for it? And why does grief leave some people devastated while others move on quickly? Explore these questions and more.
Uncover the origins of self-control, then explore what research has to say about its role in helping you succeed in life, handle tough situations and thrive in society. Examine an evolutionary explanation for cases of impaired self-control like ADHD.
Find out how regular movement drastically improves cognitive performance, combats depression and can even cut the risk of dementia in half. See just how much exercise you need to start seeing these benefits (it's less than you might think).
Want to improve your memory? Learn what scientific research indicates is useful for improving memory, then discover how you can use diet, social interaction, and even certain kinds of video games to increase your ability to remember events and details.
You've probably noticed how poor sleep can hinder your ability to think and focus. But why exactly is sleep so important? How does it contribute to a healthy brain? Uncover answers to these questions and more. Plus, get four science-backed tips for sleeping better.
 
 
24 Lessons
12  hrs 51  mins

Description

Did you know that the human brain is the most complex object in the known universe? Take an in-depth, science-based tour of this remarkable organ with award-winning molecular biologist John Medina, Ph.D. He’ll share the latest neuroscience research to help you optimize your brain’s performance, including proven strategies for improving your memory, boosting your creativity and more. Plus, find out what happens when the brain’s intricate systems aren’t functioning as they should.

John Medina

John Medina is an affiliate professor of bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Washington State University. A leading advocate for brain research and its potential application to real world problems, Dr. Medina founded two leading brain research institutes. He is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller "Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School."

John Medina

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