The Neuroscience of Personal Excellence from Coursera

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.

What's inside

Syllabus

Foundations of Neuroscience

As a starting point for a discussion about the neuroscience of personal excellence, we will need a common vocabulary and knowledge about how the brain works. In this first module, you will learn about the key parts of the brain and nervous system. Begin to understand how neurotransmitters, hormones and brain waves affect behavior. Lastly, the social brain hypothesis and how maleable the adult brain actually is will be discussed. Consider this module a journey to introduce you to basic neuroscience.

Learning and Habituation

Our lives are largely driven by our habits. Research states that 43% of our behavior is habitual. In this module, we will explore the neuroscience of learning and habituation so that you can learn to harness it to your advantage.

Decision Making and Problem Solving

To improve our decision-making and problem solving skills, we must learn how our brain approaches these tasks. In this module, we'll discuss ways to improve. We'll also review how to keep our minds healthy with proven neuroscience.

Finding Your Sweet Spot

Many people see fear, stress and anxiety as somethign that should be avoided. In this module, you will come to learn that they each have a valuable part to play for performance related tasks. Being able to regulate arousal is the key to finding your sweet spot when it comes to elite performance.

Forging Mettle

To be at our best, we need to be able to withstand the storms of life. In this module you will come away with and understanding of psychological resilience, perseverance and mental toughness. Each overlapping the others. We'll also explore tactics for developing your mental strength.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops abilities in decision making, problem solving, and habit formation, which are core skills for personal excellence

Explores the neuroscience behind our actions and behavior, which is standard in industry neuroscience research

Taught by Ron Duren Jr., who is recognized for their work in neuroscience-based leadership techniques

Examines the social brain hypothesis and how maleable the adult brain is, which is highly relevant to personal development

Offers hands-on labs and interactive materials to enhance the learning experience

May require additional materials that are not readily available in a typical household or in a library

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Neuroscience of Personal Excellence with these activities:

Review Basics of Neuroscience

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Lay a solid foundation by reviewing the fundamentals of neuroscience. This will make the course material easier to grasp.

Browse courses on Neuroscience

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Study key parts of the brain and nervous system
Revise neurotransmitters, hormones and their relation to behavior
Explore the social brain hypothesis and brain plasticity

Summarize a Research Article on Learning and Habituation

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Dive deeper into the topic of learning and habituation by summarizing a relevant research paper. This will enhance your understanding and retention.

Browse courses on Learning

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Select a research article on learning and habituation
Read and understand the article thoroughly
Write a concise summary of the article's main findings

Practice Problem Solving Techniques

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Sharpen your problem-solving skills by practicing various techniques. This will boost your confidence and equip you with effective strategies.

Browse courses on Decision Making

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Attempt online practice problems or join a study group
Focus on understanding the underlying principles rather than memorizing solutions
Seek feedback and learn from your mistakes

Four other activities

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Explore Techniques for Regulating Arousal

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Gain practical insights by following guided tutorials on regulating arousal. This will help you optimize your performance under pressure.

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Identify reputable online resources or workshops
Participate actively in the tutorials
Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you

Engage in Peer Discussions on Mental Toughness

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Connect with peers and share experiences to foster a deeper understanding of mental toughness and its development.

Browse courses on Mental Toughness

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Organize or join a study group focused on developing mental toughness
Facilitate discussions and share perspectives
Provide feedback and support to fellow learners
Reflect on your own experiences and share insights

Create a Mind Map or Concept Map on Personal Excellence

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Synthesize your understanding of personal excellence by creating a visual representation. This will help you connect different aspects of the topic.

Browse courses on Personal Excellence

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Use online tools or draw by hand
Identify key concepts and their relationships
Organize and connect these concepts visually
Reflect on the connections and identify areas for further exploration

Attend a Workshop on Mindfulness and Stress Management

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Participate in a workshop to develop practical strategies for managing stress and cultivating mindfulness. This will enhance your well-being and improve your ability to perform under pressure.

Browse courses on Mindfulness

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Research and identify relevant workshops
Register and attend the workshop
Actively participate in the exercises and discussions
Apply the techniques learned to your daily routine

Career center

Learners who complete The Neuroscience of Personal Excellence will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Neuroscientist

Neuroscientists investigate the brain and central nervous system. They research brain function, behavior, and neurological disorders. This course would provide a solid foundation in neuroscience, which is essential for success as a neuroscientist. The course would cover topics such as the structure and function of the brain, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropathology.

See salaries and explore the career path for Neuroscientist

Neuroengineer

Neuroengineers design and develop devices to diagnose and treat neurological disorders. They also work on developing new technologies to improve the lives of people with disabilities. This course would be helpful for aspiring neuroengineers, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain.

See salaries and explore the career path for Neuroengineer

Neuropharmacologist

Neuropharmacologists study the effects of drugs on the nervous system. They develop new drugs to treat neurological disorders. This course would be helpful for aspiring neuropharmacologists, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain.

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Neurosurgeon

Neurosurgeons are surgeons who operate on the brain and spinal cord. They treat a variety of conditions, including tumors, aneurysms, and spinal cord injuries. This course would provide a solid foundation in neuroscience, which is essential for success as a neurosurgeon.

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Neurologist

Neurologists diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. This course would be helpful for aspiring neurologists, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the nervous system.

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Psychologist

Psychologists study the mind and behavior. They work with people of all ages to help them with a variety of mental health issues. This course would be helpful for aspiring psychologists, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain.

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Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental health disorders. They prescribe medication and provide psychotherapy. This course would be helpful for aspiring psychiatrists, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain.

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Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers oversee the recruitment, hiring, and development of employees. They also manage employee relations and benefits. This course would be helpful for aspiring human resources managers, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain. The course would cover topics such as motivation, conflict resolution, and communication.

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Management Consultant

Management consultants help organizations improve their performance. They provide advice on a variety of topics, including strategy, operations, and finance. This course may be helpful for aspiring management consultants, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain. The course would cover topics such as decision-making, problem-solving, and communication.

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Life Coach

Life coaches help people achieve their personal and professional goals. They provide support, guidance, and accountability. This course may be helpful for aspiring life coaches, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain. The course would cover topics such as motivation, goal setting, and decision-making.

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Data Analyst

Data analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help businesses make better decisions. This course may be helpful for aspiring data analysts, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain. The course would cover topics such as problem-solving, decision-making, and communication.

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Business Analyst

Business analysts analyze business processes and develop solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This course may be helpful for aspiring business analysts, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain. The course would cover topics such as problem-solving, decision-making, and communication.

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Sales Manager

Sales managers oversee the sales team and develop sales strategies. They also motivate and train salespeople. This course may be helpful for aspiring sales managers, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain. The course would cover topics such as motivation, decision-making, and communication.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing managers develop and implement marketing campaigns. They also manage the marketing budget and track the results of marketing campaigns. This course may be helpful for aspiring marketing managers, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain. The course would cover topics such as motivation, decision-making, and communication.

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Product Manager

Product managers oversee the development and launch of new products. They also manage the product roadmap and track the success of new products. This course may be helpful for aspiring product managers, as it would provide a foundation in neuroscience and the functioning of the brain. The course would cover topics such as motivation, decision-making, and communication.

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