Course Description

Three short articles on the heart and brain. The first article explores the intricate relationship between the heart and the mind, highlighting the interdependence of emotional and rational processes. Historical perspectives often separated reason from emotion, but contemporary research, including work by Leslie Greenberg and Antonio Damasio, suggests they are deeply interconnected and essential for adaptive functioning. The concept of heart rate variability (HRV) emerges as a crucial indicator of emotional self-regulation and social engagement, mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system through the vagus nerve. The polyvagal theory, developed by Stephen Porges, describes how different neural circuits govern our responses to safety, danger, and life-threatening situations, impacting our ability to emotionally self-regulate. Early caregiving experiences significantly shape the development of our prefrontal cortex, influencing our capacity for top-down processing of emotions and our overall psychological resilience.

  • Understand the historical and contemporary perspectives on the relationship between emotion and reason.

  • Define heart rate variability and its significance in emotional self-regulation.

  • Explain the role of the parasympathetic nervous system and the vagus nerve in regulating heart rate and emotional responses.

  • Discuss the polyvagal theory and its implications for understanding adaptive survival strategies.

  • Identify the impact of early caregiving experiences on the development of the prefrontal cortex and emotional regulation.

  • Recognize the importance of psychotherapy in enhancing emotional self-regulation and addressing past relational traumas.

Course curriculum

    1. The Unexpected Interdependence of Heart and Mind by Haley Peckham

    2. heart and mind quiz

    1. Listen Closely: Hearing Your Heartsongs by Jennifer Lipski

    2. Heartsongs Quiz

    1. Heart Health and Brain Health by Archibald Bower

    2. Heart Health Quiz

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