Courses

Humans always dance a fine line between pleasure and pain. Advances in neuroscience and psychology have significantly expanded our understanding of how the brain processes each sensation. This growing body of knowledge has far-reaching implications for mental and physical health and our general quality of life. In this course, we will decode the intricate interplay between neural mechanisms, emotional experiences, and external influences to better understand the profound impact the science of pain and pleasure has on our overall well-being.

We will begin the course by defining pleasure and pain and exploring the complex network of neural pathways and chemical signals the brain uses to process both sensations. Next, we will examine the role of related emotional and psychological phenomena. How do we perceive and interpret pleasure and pain? How are both experiences stored and recalled? We will then investigate how external cultural, social, and environmental factors influence our experiences. In particular, we will emphasize the prevalent accessibility of high-reward, high-dopamine stimuli in our modern society, from drugs to gambling to Instagramming. Lastly, we’ll outline practical strategies to help us manage our well-being while exploring ongoing research and potential breakthroughs in areas like precision pain medicine, opioid research, chronic pain, and mindfulness. Students will leave the course armed with a foundational understanding of the relevant science and valuable strategies for restoring balance and leading a more meaningful, joyful, and fulfilling life.