NS 6330

Nutrition and the Brain

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

Our brain regulates what and how we eat, while our dietary choices, in turn, influence our cognitive health. This course examines the relationship between nutrition and brain function, integrating insights from neuroscience, physiology, metabolism, and behavioral research. This course will provide a comprehensive overview of how nutrients affect brain health and how the brain influences eating behaviors and metabolism. The course introduces key concepts and modern techniques in the field of nutritional neuroscience. Through the analysis of primary literature, students will explore neural mechanisms underlying feeding behavior, brain-body communication, and the impact of nutrition on cognitive health. The course combines lectures providing foundational knowledge with paper discussions delving into key discoveries and research findings.

Enrollment Information REF-F25 Open to: graduate students.

Last 3 terms offered (None)

Learning Outcomes REF-FA25

• Discuss general methods used in nutritional neuroscience research.
• Describe nutritional effects on brain function and brain-related disorders.
• Discuss neural control of food intake and metabolism.
• Identify and interpret primary scientific literature in the field of nutritional neuroscience.
• Apply effective communication strategies in written, oral, and visual formats for diverse purposes and audiences.
• Implement nutritional neuroscience knowledge in science communications and research design (grad students).

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