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The Neuroscience of Personal Excellence
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 26 hours
  • Course by University of Colorado Boulder
  • Offered by

About

Many of us struggle to understand our actions and behavior in any given situation. Especially when pressure and stress are highest. What if we could make better decisions, create healthy habits more easily, regulate our emotions, become more mentally tough and perform well under pressure? There are certain defining moments in your life, in this course you'll learn to tap into your personal excellence when it matters. The reason we struggle often comes down to the fact that we are unaware how our engine works. The engine, in this metaphor, is our brain. It is the driving force behind our actions and behavior. Understanding how it works best is crucial to perform at your best. This course is part of the "Neuroscience of Leadership" specialization, which examines leadership techniques through the lens of social cognitive neuroscience and psychology. Utilizing the latest research, we develop a leadership practice based on the foundation of neuroscience. The focus of this course is developing your personal excellence to lead oneself better. We start with a journey through your brain and nervous system to give you a basic understanding of how the system works. You'll learn how the brain learns and creates habits. You'll come away with knowledge about decision making and problem solving. Understanding how to regulate your arousal and find your sweet spot is crucial for high performance. Lastly, you'll learn how to be more mentally tough and resilient when chaos reigns. This course can be taken for academic credit as part of CU Boulder’s Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree offered on the Coursera platform. The ME-EM is designed to help engineers, scientists, and technical professionals move into leadership and management roles in the engineering and technical sectors. With performance-based admissions and no application process, the ME-EM is ideal for individuals with a broad range of undergraduate education and/or professional experience. Learn more about the ME-EM program at https://www.coursera.org/degrees/me-engineering-management-boulder.

Modules

Introduction

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Get to Know Your Classmates

1 Videos

  • Intro video

3 Readings

  • Welcome and Where to Find Help
  • About the companion eBook: "The Neuroscience of Leadership: Leading with Your Brain" (part 1)
  • Download the "Neuroscience of Leadership: Leading with Your Brain" eBook (part 1)

1 Quiz

  • Unlock the Companion eBook

Getting to Know Your Brain and Nervous System

    • 1 Videos
    • 6 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Understanding the Engine

6 Readings

  • Brain Facts: A Primer on the Brain and Nervous System (Intro and Chap. 1)
  • What is the Vagus Nerve?
  • Autonomic Nervous System: Crash Course Anatomy & Physiology
  • Atlas of the Brain
  • Seven (or more) Things you Didn't Know About your Brain
  • 41 Fascinating Facts About Your Brain

Neurotransmitters and Brain Waves

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Learning About Neurotransmitters

4 Readings

  • 7 Neurotransmitters Involved in the Brain-Body Connection
  • Understanding Brain Waves
  • The Emerging Field of Neuroleadership
  • Social Cognitive Neuroscience: A Review of Core Processes

Social Brain, Plastic Brain

    • 1 Videos
    • 6 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Module 1.1 Journal

1 Videos

  • Getting to Know Your Brain

6 Readings

  • Managing with the Brain in Mind
  • What is Neuroplasiticity?
  • Why Practice Actually Makes Perfect: How to Rewire Your Brain for Better Performance
  • How to Rewire Your Brain
  • The Uniqueness of Humans
  • The Social Brain and it's Superpowers

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge check 1.1

How We Learn

    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Readings

  • Brain Facts: A Primer on the Brain and Nervous System (Chap. 4)
  • The Neuroscience of Learning
  • How Neuroscience is changing what we know about teaching?

Power of Habits

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Harnessing the Power of Habits

3 Readings

  • The Neuroscience of Habits
  • The Science of Habit
  • The Science of Making & Breaking Habits

AGES

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Module 1.2 Journal

1 Videos

  • Learning with the AGES Model

1 Readings

  • The AGES Model Can Help Learning Stick

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge check 1.2

Decision Making

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Decision Making and Self Control

3 Readings

  • Your Brain at Work
  • The Neuroscience of Decision — Making: Are We Foul or Fair?
  • Are We in Control of Our Own Decisions?

Problem Solving

    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Readings

  • Using the Whole Brain to Improve Strategic Reasoning
  • Hack your Brain for Better Problem Solving
  • Creativity, Problem Solving and Innovative Science: Insights from History, Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience

Healthy Mind

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Module 1.3 Journal

1 Videos

  • Taking Care of Your Brain

2 Readings

  • The Healthy Mind Platter
  • Mental Health & Well-Being in the Workplace

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge check 1.3

Arousal Regulation

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Regulating Arousal for Optimal Performance

4 Readings

  • YouTube: Arousal and Task Performance
  • How to Demonstrate Calm and Optimism in a Crisis
  • Get Excited: Reappraising Pre-Performance Anxiety as Excitement
  • 5 Strategies for Managing your Emotions

Agitation and Stress Response

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Making Sense of Our Stress Response

3 Readings

  • This Neuroscientists Solution for Stress will Suprise You
  • Understanding the Stress Response
  • What Is Eustress? A Look at the Psychology and Benefits

Window of Tolerance

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Module 1.4 Journal

1 Videos

  • Understanding the Window of Tolerance

4 Readings

  • Window of Tolerance and Emotional Regulation
  • Window of Tolerance Graphic
  • What is the Polyvagal Theory?
  • Polyvagal Theory: New Insights into Adaptive Reactions of the Autonomic Nervous System

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check 1.4

Bouncing back with Psychological Resilience

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Bouncing Back From Setbacks

4 Readings

  • The Mind’s Design: The Neuroscience of Stress and Resilience
  • Resilience, The Up Side of Down
  • Resilience Examples: What Key Skills Make You Resilient?
  • Resilience in Positive Psychology: How to Bounce Back

Power of Perseverance

    • 1 Videos
    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Keep Moving Forward

3 Readings

  • The Neuroscience of Perseverance
  • The Neuroscience of True Grit
  • Grit at Work

Forging Mental Toughness

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Quiz
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Module 1.5 Journal

2 Videos

  • Mental Toughness on a Performance Model
  • Outro Video

3 Readings

  • Navy Seals, Neuroscience, & Mental Toughness
  • Resilience Training: How to Master Mental Toughness & Thrive
  • Mental Toughness and Individual Differences in Learning, Educational and Work Performance, Psychological Well-being, and Personality: A Systematic Review

1 Quiz

  • Knowledge Check 1.5

Auto Summary

Unlock your potential with "The Neuroscience of Personal Excellence," a transformative course designed to help you understand and optimize your behavior, decision-making, and performance under pressure. Focused on the intricacies of personal development, this course delves into the workings of your brain—your personal engine—and how it influences your actions. You'll explore how the brain learns, forms habits, regulates emotions, and maintains mental toughness, all essential for high performance and resilience in challenging situations. This engaging curriculum is part of the "Neuroscience of Leadership" specialization, which applies insights from social cognitive neuroscience and psychology to enhance leadership skills. It is expertly crafted to help you lead yourself more effectively by harnessing cutting-edge research in neuroscience. Guided by Coursera’s knowledgeable instructors, you will embark on a journey through your brain and nervous system, gaining foundational knowledge crucial for personal and professional growth. The course content is perfect for those aiming to excel in leadership roles within engineering and technical sectors, and it can also be taken for academic credit as part of the University of Colorado Boulder's online Master of Engineering in Engineering Management (ME-EM) degree. With a total duration of 1560 minutes, this foundational course is offered under the Starter subscription plan, making it accessible to a wide range of learners. Whether you are an engineer, scientist, or technical professional aspiring to leadership, this course is tailored to equip you with the tools to master personal excellence. Join us on Coursera and start your journey towards understanding your brain and achieving your highest potential.

Ron Duren Jr.
Instructor

Ron Duren Jr.