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THE BRAIN THAT CHANGES

Monday - 10:00 A.M.                                                           Winter 2012 (14 weeks)
Coordinator:  Dan Gornel                                                  Co-Coordinator:  Joy Nuell

Course Description

One of the most interesting transformations brought about by modern science has been our increasing awareness and understanding of the extensive ability of the brain to grow and change. We now realize that these changes continue throughout life.

This capacity for change in the brain is termed “neuroplasticity.”  Our remarkably increasing knowledge of it has led to a rapidly expanding ability to better understand not only the development of the brain and such functions as memory and learning, but also to ameliorate many serious problems of neurologic dysfunction including stroke, dyslexia, and a large and diverse group of emotional, behavioral and other common disorders.

This SD/G will explore just what neuroplasticity involves, how it works, and how our expanding knowledge of it offers many exciting new possibilities for treatment of a host of problems.

Suggested Topics

 1.    Brain Matters: Understanding Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity and:

 2,    Early Development and Developmental Disorders

 3.    Nature and Nurture: Genetic Expression and Experience,  

 4.    Memory and Learning

 5.    Speech and Language

 6.    Sensory Perception: Vision, Hearing, Touch, Taste, Smell,
Balance -- Phantom Pain

 7.    Muscle Function and Diseases; Stroke Rehabilitation   

 8.    Mindfulness I:  Components and Workings

 9.    Mindfulness II: Components and Workings (continued)

10.   Mindfulness III: Applications (Feelings and Relationships)

11.   Mindfulness IV. Applications (Habits, Obsessions, Anxiety)

12.   Cerebral Hemispheres: Right and Left Functions and Balance

13.   Aging

14.   Living in Modern Society

References

Core Books:

Doidge, Norman.  The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science.  Penguin Books, 2007.

Begley, Sharon.  Train your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential To Transform Ourselves.  Ballantine Books, 2007.

Siegel, Daniel J.  Mindsight: A New Science of Personal Transformation.  Bantam, 2010

Others:

Ramachandran, V.S.  Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind.  Harper-Collins, 1999

Hanson, Rick and Mendius, Richard.  Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom.  New Harbinger Publications, 2009

Pre-Meeting: Monday, December 12, 2011, 10:00 a.m.