Still Learning 10: Getting to Know Your Brain

This course will take place on June 9, 11, 16, 18, 23 and 25, 2025, in Mercer, 10:00-11:30 a.m., with Molly Rose Teuke.

This Fe University course offering will reveal insights into the brain — and how to help your brain work for you in some surprising ways. This is not a course in brain games or brain training; instead you will learn facts and insights revealed through advances in neuroscience. The course intention is that, armed with this information, you will become more skilled at getting your brain on your side.

Class begins with some of the brain’s universal operating principles. Using an interactive approach, class begins with some of the brain’s universal operating principles, including the role of the prefrontal cortex, as compared with the limbic system, what triggers us, and what what makes us feel powerful. We subsequently consider the cognitive importance of forgiving the forgetful brain, the fundamental role of sleep, and the value of exercise and exposure to nature in sharpening our cognitive skills. We also dig into the realities of willpower and how to get more of it, and consider the processes and cognitive value of forming habits. Through it all, we weave a thread about neuroplasticity, your brain’s ability to grow and change throughout your life.

Molly Rose Teuke has an abiding curiosity about how our brains work in everyday life. She reads avidly in neuroscience, and spent a decade facilitating brain-based leadership skills for a wide variety of audiences. She occasionally speaks and writes on diverse aspects of “How to Get Your Brain on Your Side.” She also hosts a live weekly classical music program on WXPR Public Radio.

Requirements: Students should have curiosity about what makes their brain tick. The instructor will suggest relevant books you may want to consider, and will provide links to readings that expand on individual class content. There is no formal homework, but you will be expected to internalize information from each class, and come to the next class ready to share examples of how you may have applied it in real life (with results). You will be given specific questions to help you do this. Not everyone will have to contribute each week.

We recommend signing up at least two weeks ahead of class to ensure class fills and to prevent cancellation.

This course is limited to 10 students.

Instructor: Molly Rose Teuke

Offline Registration: Download PDF Registration Form, complete and mail in with payment.

Registration Questions? Contact us or call (715) 862-2032 or (715) 476-2881.

Registration Issues/Troubleshooting: If you are registering with one email address for two or more people, please register each person individually (i.e. do not register all at once, but add students one at a time to checkout). If you continue to have difficulty or have another question, please contact us.

Course Cancellations: Students are encouraged to register at least 2 weeks before the beginning of any Fe University course. A course with less than 4 students 2 weeks before the start date may be cancelled at instructor/FeU discretion, with students’ registrations refunded. If you’re interested in a class, please sign up early! Thank you.

Student Cancellations: If a registered student cancels, registration can be refunded if requested 4 or more days before the course’s start date. We’re afraid cancellation requests made 3 or fewer days before the course’s start date are unable to be refunded.

All courses in our series Still Learning After All These Years are priced at a discount thanks to  generous donations from Bader Philanthropies Inc. and  the Northern Wisconsin Mental Health Foundation.