What is this course all about?

Your undergraduate years represent a unique and important period of brain development. NSCI 140 – The Learning Brain is an innovative and inclusive introduction to neuroscience that invites you to explore how your brain learns, grows, and adapts while it is still developing.

This course blends scientific inquiry with personal reflection. You will study the neural foundations of learning, memory, attention, stress, motivation, neurodiversity, and more. At the same time, you will be guided to connect these concepts to real-life situations and your own lived experiences as a learner, thinker, and developing adult.

Grounded in cognitive, developmental, and social-affective neuroscience, this course is designed to help you understand your brain from both a scientific and a personal perspective.

What will you learn and gain?

By participating in The Learning Brain, you will:

• Learn foundational neuroscience concepts related to human brain development, learning, and cognition.

• Practice evidence- based learning strategies to support academic performance and develop lifelong learning skills.

• Strengthen your ability to communicate neuroscience clearly and connect it to relevant real- world and societal issues.

• Complete a student-led group project on a neuroscience topic of your choice, building agency, collaboration, and scientific communication skills.

• Participate in a research-informed, inclusive learning environment that encourages varied forms of engagement and supports a wide range of cognitive and learning profiles.

Who is this course for?

Everyone. NSCI 140 is open to all undergraduate students across all faculties and disciplines, and no prior science background is needed. Whether you are in arts, science, engineering, education, or any other field, this course will meet you where you are, with the science of your own story.

If you are curious about how your brain works, how you learn best, and how neuroscience can help you understand yourself and others, this course is for you.