Module #1 Introduction to Stress and Anxiety Overview of stress and anxiety, their impact on health, and importance of understanding brain mechanisms
Module #2 Stress Response Systems Physiological response to stress, including fight-or-flight and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
Module #3 Neuroanatomy of Emotion Introduction to brain regions involved in emotional processing, including amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus
Module #4 Neurotransmitters and Hormones Role of neurotransmitters (e.g., serotonin, dopamine) and hormones (e.g., cortisol, adrenaline) in stress and anxiety
Module #5 Stress and Anxiety:Definition, Classification, and Diagnosis Defining and distinguishing between stress, anxiety, and anxiety disorders
Module #6 The Amygdala:Emotional Processing and Fear Conditioning Structure and function of the amygdala, including its role in fear conditioning and stress response
Module #7 HPA Axis and Cortisol Regulation of the HPA axis, cortisols effects on the brain and body, and consequences of chronic cortisol exposure
Module #8 Stress and the Prefrontal Cortex Influence of stress on prefrontal cortex function, including executive function, decision-making, and emotion regulation
Module #9 The Role of Glucocorticoid Receptors in Stress Regulation Mechanisms by which glucocorticoid receptors influence stress response and anxiety
Module #10 Neuroinflammation and Stress The relationship between neuroinflammation, stress, and anxiety disorders
Module #11 Anxiety and the Default Mode Network The default mode networks role in anxiety, including rumination, worry, and mind-wandering
Module #12 Fear Extinction and Anxiety Neural mechanisms underlying fear extinction, and their relevance to anxiety disorders
Module #13 The Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST):A Critical Node in Anxiety Structure and function of the BNST, including its role in anxiety modulation
Module #14 Anxiety and the Insula The insulas role in interoception, self-awareness, and anxiety
Module #15 Neurocircuits of Anxiety:Excitation and Inhibition Balancing excitation and inhibition in anxiety-relevant neurocircuits
Module #16 Exercise and Stress Reduction The impact of exercise on stress response, anxiety, and brain health
Module #17 Mindfulness and Meditation:Reducing Stress and Anxiety Neural mechanisms underlying mindfulness and meditation, and their benefits for stress and anxiety
Module #18 Sleep and Stress Regulation The relationship between sleep, stress, and anxiety, including sleeps impact on brain function
Module #19 Nutrition, Gut-Brain Axis, and Stress The influence of nutrition and gut microbiome on stress response, anxiety, and brain function
Module #20 Pharmacological Interventions for Stress and Anxiety Current pharmacological treatments for stress and anxiety disorders, including mechanisms and limitations
Module #21 Epigenetics and Stress:The Role of Gene-Environment Interactions Epigenetic mechanisms underlying stress response and anxiety
Module #22 Neuroplasticity and Stress:Reorganizing the Brain Stress-induced changes in brain structure and function, and implications for treatment
Module #23 Stress, Anxiety, and Psychiatric Comorbidities The co-occurrence of stress, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD
Module #24 Neurofeedback and Biofeedback for Stress and Anxiety The use of neurofeedback and biofeedback for stress and anxiety management
Module #25 Course Wrap-Up & Conclusion Planning next steps in Brain Mechanisms of Stress and Anxiety career
