Applied Neuroscience
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
submitted by John R. Grassi, Ph.D.
to the Cambridge College Curriculum Committee 2/17/11
The Teen Brain
Neurofeedback
The Brain and
Cognition
Irlen Method
The Brain and Addictions
Rationale for Applied Neuroscience Certificate Program
Who will benefit?
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educators
school nurses
therapists
medical personnel
psychologists, particularly school psychologists
cognitive development specialists
Why?
The rapid growth of the field of neuroscience during the last 10 years presages the
importance of this area of study for all of those professionals listed above. For those
currently employed, it will enable them to acquire new knowledge, diagnostic skills and
therapy skills that will augment their salaries and increase their clientele.
Examples:
As more and more children are being diagnosed with ADHD, stress problems, brain
damage from contact sports, attention problems, reading problems, emotional and
social problems, applied neurotechnologies offers the hope that educators, school
nurses and school psychologists will be able to intervene in ways that are less invasive
and less harmful than using pharmaceutical products.
It is estimated that nearly 10 % of the children in Massachusetts who have problems
reading due to scotopic sensitivity syndrome (Irlen Syndrome) and are in special needs
programs can be helped with Irlen screening, use of colored overlays and tinted glasses.
The Cambridge College Applied Neuroscience Certificate Program trains school nurses
and educators to identify children with Irlen Syndrome. Many children who are
currently in special needs classes can be mainstreamed once their visual problems are
remediated. This will result in estimated cost savings to schools in the Commonwealth
of millions of dollars.
Currently there is a bill pending in the Massachusetts House that would require a
trained Irlen screener in each school district. Only Cambridge College has offered the
required courses in the past and will continue to do so with the new certificate program
to train Irlen screeners.
Those children and adults who are challenged with a range of medical problems
including but not limited to: migraine headaches, post-traumatic stress syndrome,
ADHD, ADD, autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorders, addictions, stress and
anxiety, can now be treated with EEG biofeedback, a non-invasive, safe technology that
enables many people to decrease their drug dosages and, in some cases, eliminate
dependency on drugs with potentially harmful effects completely. EEG biofeedback for
beginning therapists and medical personnel as well as for advanced practitioners is
offered as a hands-on course for those enrolled in the Applied Neurotechnologies
Certificate Program at Cambridge College. In the past, medical doctors, psychologists,
therapists and school nurses have learned how to use this technology in their practices
at Cambridge College.
Most programs of study in neuroscience offered currently throughout the United States
are geared towards theory and research. Cambridge College’s program actually gives
participants and marketable skills. This, in all probability, will be a niche program that
will draw students from across the U.S. to Cambridge College.
Educators will particularly benefit from this program as it will assist them in acquiring
the skills for setting up brain-compatible classrooms and developing curriculum that
reaches children with different learning abilities. These brain-friendly teaching
techniques have been tested throughout the U.S. by Cambridge College faculty and have
resulted in higher performance on standardized exams, better retention rates, and more
satisfaction with school. When applied in industry, they have enabled corporate
trainers to substantially cut their training costs. At the university level, professors using
these techniques have reported excellent results with college students.
Summary
The Applied Neuroscience Certificate Program at Cambridge College will augment the
skill set of professional educators, therapists and medical personnel. They will be able
to use these new skills to:
* assist children and adults with neurological problems
* augment their salaries
* transfer these skills into new employment areas
* become certified as Irlen screeners
* use as a foundation for research and further graduate studies
Applied Neuroscience Certificate Program
Program Overview
The decade of the 90s was called the “Decade of the Brain.” The human brain has been
the focus of much research during the last 20 years. This research is now being
examined by educators, healthcare workers, medical personnel and therapists with an
eye towards discovering how to apply some of the findings to their work. The Applied
Neuroscience Certificate Program at Cambridge College provides professionals with the
opportunity to update their knowledge about the brain while learning how to apply
some of the research findings in EEG Neurofeedback, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome and
Brain-Based Classroom Instruction to their work with children and adults.
Program Participants
This certificate program is designed for educators, school nurses, healthcare workers,
psychotherapists and counselors. Adults returning to school after many years will feel
comfortable with the adult learning and teaching models used by our course instructors.
Courses offer a combination of theory and practice as well as hands-on experience.
Certificate Requirements
This is a 12-credit graduate level program leading to a certificate in Neurotechnology.
Required courses:
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The Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Brain Behavior
or Human Brain/Human Learning
Introduction of Neurofeedback: A Hands-on Approach
The Brain and Irlen Syndrome
The Brain, Irlen Syndrome and Neurotherapy: Methodologies, Research and
Interventions
Course Descriptions
ALC 655
The Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Brain Behavior
(3 graduate credits)
The more you know about neurophysiology and how the brain is organized, the better
you will understand various cognitive, behavioral and emotional problems. This course
reviews aspects of brain behavior relationships and brain communication; medications
and hormones. It looks at the mechanisms behind EEG changes, including
thalamocortical loops and cortical activation from the brainstem.
ALC 652
Introduction to Neurofeedback: A Hands-on Approach
(3 graduate credits)
This introductory course in EEG neurofeedback is designed for health care
workers, educators, therapists and others who want to learn how to use
EEG neurofeedback techniques for improving cognitive, behavioral,
emotional and neurological function in children and in adults. This course
Will provide you with hands-on experiences in using EEG neurofeedback
instruments, a detailed review of the literature related to neurofeedback,
review of clinical models based on neurophysiology and arousal, including
assessment and decision processes involved in the selection of EEG Neurofeedback
protocols. These protocols have been found to be effective in working with
children and adults with ADD, ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism
Spectrum Disorders and Bipolar Disorders. At the completion of this course,
participants will be able to add this treatment modality to their educational
and/or private practice.
EED 641
The Brain and Irlen Syndrome
(3 graduate credits)
Irlen Syndrome (IS/SSS) was first discovered 25 years ago. Researchers using both
MEG and EEG technologies to measure brain timing define it as “…a condition of
perceptual dysfunction characterized by significant visual fatigue and discomfort when
observing high contrast stimuli under high luminance conditions. SSS has been a topic
of increasing interest in the fields of education, psychology and neuroscience because
it has a high prevalence in persons with reading difficulties and dyslexia.” Irlen colored
Overlays and Filters enhance neurological timing, remediate learning disabilities,
visual-perceptual processing problems, ADD/HD, and cognitive and behavioral
difficulties. Participants will learn how to screen for IS/SSS and use Irlen Colored
Overlays in their private practice or education setting. A practicum component is
included.
EED 641 B
The Brain, Irlen Syndrome and Neurotherapy: Methodologies,
Research and Interventions (3 graduate credits)
The main purpose of this course is to help established professionals learn
about recently developed techniques and therapies and to be able to
integrate information about two diverse yet related fields of study, Irlen
syndrome and EEG neurotherapy, into one’s present profession. This
course will explore therapeutic strategies that can be used
simultaneously with more traditional approaches as well as provide
urgently needed new information which course participants can
effectively utilize back in their classrooms, offices and/or health settings.
EED 647
Human Brain / Human Learning
(3 graduate credits) (may be substituted for ALC 655)
This introductory course in brain-compatible teaching and learning will entail
a review of some of the latest research findings from the neurosciences, cognitive
psychology, information science, psychobiology and neurolinguistic programming. The goal of
this course is to provide educators and trainers with the opportunity to learn about the role of
the brain/mind in the learning process so that they will be able to read and understand current
brain/mind research and apply some of the findings to their teaching practice. Some time will
also be spent on accelerated learning techniques. This course would be appropriate for
educators of all grade levels and subject areas as well as for corporate trainers and other
trainers of adult learners.
Course Schedule
Courses are scheduled each semester throughout the academic year at Cambridge
College or in the greater Boston area. Current course schedules will be posted on the
Cambridge College website.