1 Health Neuroscience

Course Overview

• Title: Health Neuroscience 1

• Instructor: Prof. Dr. Yi-Yuan Tang

• Institution: College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University

• Term: Spring 2025

Course Goals

• The ultimate goal of education is to:

  • Accumulate knowledge

  • Unfold full human potential

• Emphasized connection between happiness and problem-solving:

  • Unhappiness leads to problems.

  • Happiness fosters solutions.

• Promoting joy in learning and engagement.

Core Concepts of Health Neuroscience

• Field Overview:

  • Interdisciplinary field incorporating:

    • Cognitive, affective, and social neuroscience.

    • Health psychology.

    • Physical and mental health.

    • Science of behavior change.

• Career Opportunities:

  • Academic research and clinical research.

  • Industries: NIH, universities, tech companies (Oracle, Microsoft, Google, etc.).

• Target Audience:

  • Students interested in:

    • Impact of brain on physical and mental health.

    • Promotion of healthy behaviors and lifestyles.

    • Development of brain-based preventative measures and interventions.

Research Methodologies in Health Neuroscience

• Utilization of various research methods:

  • Imaging Techniques:

    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

    • Physiological Measurements/Virtual Reality.

  • Focus Areas:

    • Brain and body relationships predicting health.

    • Neurobiology of stress, coping, and resilience.

    • Health behavior interventions.

    • Mindset, social support, and lifestyle impacts on health.

Advanced Topics in Health Neuroscience

• Neural Plasticity:

  • Theories and research on the adaptability of the brain.

  • Genetic and environmental influences on brain health.

• Current Topics:

  • Impact of COVID-19 on brain and behavior.

  • Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD).

  • Epigenetics and its role in health and transgenerational disorders.

• Personalized Medicine:

  • Individual differences in personality and cognitive health.

  • Focus on applications of neuroscience to personalize healthcare.

Instructor Background

• Profile:

  • Combined training in psychology and neuroscience.

  • Research includes:

    • Preventative measures and interventions.

    • Impact of cultural factors in cognitive and social neuroscience.

    • Behavior change dynamics.

  • Engagement with diverse research projects funded by NIH, DoD, and other organizations.

Ongoing Research Projects

• Projects involve:

  • Mechanisms behind behavior change (e.g., ADHD, anxiety).

  • Reducing cognitive decline through lifestyle approaches.

  • Cognitive interventions focusing on mindfulness and stress management.

Mindfulness-Based Practices

• Developed Methodology:

  • Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT) introduced to promote mental health.

  • Conducted extensive randomized control trials across various populations.

  • Over 10,000 individuals trained in personal and cognitive development through IBMT.

Course Structure

• Assessment Components:

  • Undergraduate Students:

    • Open note exam, no final exam.

    • Homework, in-class activities, lab report.

  • Graduate Students:

    • Short essay, research proposal, and presentation with an emphasis on applied learning.

• Activities in Class:

  • Review of previous content, introduction of new materials, and Q&A sessions.

Summary & Key Questions

• Importance of understanding health neuroscience:

  • Understanding body-mind interactions aids in event application in daily life.

• Exploring practical applications of Health Neuroscience in everyday contexts.