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University-Specific Master's Degree
Therapeutic Neuroscience

The Master's Diploma in Therapeutic Neuroscience is a postgraduate program that has established itself as a national benchmark, offering in-depth training in behavioral science applied to real life, both to everyday behavior and to maladaptive behavior and various mental health disorders.

The program begins with a reasoned study of the neuroanatomy of the brain, which is learned in a functional and applied way from the very first class. Subsequently, the affective, hedonic, and procedural systems, which are strong determinants of human behavior, are integrated. After that, learning is studied by performing a functional analysis of behavior from a comprehensive perspective of its determinants (associative, operant, affective, etc.), with numerous examples applied to functional and dysfunctional behaviors. Subsequently, an analysis of personality, cognitive, evaluative, and socio-affective mechanisms is integrated, followed by an in-depth study of the key foundations of human happiness. Personality disorders are studied, as well as other neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders, including the limitations of current diagnostic models and the limitations of psychopharmacological treatment. Work on depression and anxiety is addressed more specifically, with an additional comprehensive study of addictions. Finally, an incursion into the neuroscience of consciousness and the unconscious is made. The program is based on hundreds of referenced scientific studies, providing a broad and solid foundation for behavioral analysis. However, its most valuable element is the coherent and profound clinical reasoning that runs throughout the Master's program.

The Master's Degree in Therapeutic Neuroscience is designed as a continuous, reasoned, and highly coherent learning process throughout the program. From the very first classes, students are able to transfer their reflections from the syllabus to real-life situations, patients, family, partners, work, friends... and themselves. In addition to providing a comprehensive study in the field of applied neuroscience, the Master's Degree in Therapeutic Neuroscience is a personal development program, particularly focused on in-depth reading and critical thinking. It includes a broad practical approach (workbook with more than 400 pages).

Students must have the ability to study and a high level of reading comprehension, as well as being comfortable with reflection. The program involves real continuous learning, so students must be determined to keep up with their studies in order to build up their reasoning process throughout the Master's degree. Our experience with students coming from a psychology degree is overwhelmingly positive. The Master's program allows students to delve deeper into aspects of neuroscience applied to clinical practice in a much more comprehensive way than in the undergraduate program, enabling them to understand and address the problems encountered in consultation from a more solid foundation. In general, students from psychology find the depth and academic quality of the Master's program satisfactory, as well as its direct application to therapeutic work with patients, which provides guidance and confidence in psychotherapeutic clinical practice. It also allows other healthcare professionals to improve their understanding of mental health, human behavior, patients, and themselves. In short, the Master's Degree in Therapeutic Neuroscience responds to these needs for a deeper understanding of human behavior. With the recognition of training at ICNS and the opportunity to obtain a highly recognized and valued qualification in the clinic.

Due to the fact that a significant part of the course content is updated each year, the description of each topic's points is for guidance only. The written syllabus is also complementary to the classes, where many additional points may be covered.
It is possible to take the 2 blocks of the Specialist Diploma that comprise it, without completing the Master's Final Project one that leads to the Master's degree.

Professors

Alfonso Bordallo
Dr.Álvaro Campillo
Alfonso Méndez
Ainhoa Pérez Escobedo
  • Evidence-based education.
  • Professors with extensive clinical experience.
  • Clinical focus from the very first class.
  • Hundreds of scientific studies are reviewed and cross-referenced throughout the course.
  • Early enrollment discounts available.
  • Interest-free installment payment options.
  • Special group conditions for clinics.
SPECIALIST DIPLOMA IN NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR (25 ECTS)
Class 1 - Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, and Psychobiology
Class 1 Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, and Psychobiology
In this class, we will provide a comprehensive introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system, exploring its main structures. We will also study brain neurobiology, introducing key concepts such as the function of neurotransmitters and processes such as neural neuroplasticity. Introductory aspects of neuroendocrinology will also be covered. This will provide a general overview of the nervous system explained in an educational manner, serving as a conceptual framework to facilitate the study of the following topics.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. NEUROANATOMY AND FUNCTION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

2.1 BRAIN STEM AND DIENCEPHALON

2.2 CEREBELLUM

2.3 FRONTAL LOBES

2.4 PARIETAL LOBE

2.5 OCCIPITAL LOBE

2.6 TEMPORAL LOBE

2.7 BASAL GANGLIA, HIPPOCAMPUS, AND AMYGDALA

2.8 SIGNIFICANCE

2.9 CONSCIOUSNESS

2.10 BRAIN NETWORKS AND FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY

2.11 AUTONOMOUS NERVOUS SYSTEM

3. MOTION CONTROL

4. EVOLUTION AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

5. INTRODUCTION TO THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF THE CNS

6. NEUROPLASTICITY, CREATING PATHWAYS OF ACTIVITY

7. NEUROTRANSMITTERS

7.1 SYNAPSES

7.2 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

7.3 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL DRUGS AND NEUROPLASTICITY

7.4 SEROTONIN

7.5 GABA

7.6 NOREPINEPHRINE AND ADRENALINE


7.7 HISTAMINE

7.8 DOPAMINE

7.9 OREXIN

7.10 ADENOSINE

7.11 GLUTAMATE

7.12 ACETYLCHOLINE

8. TOP-DOWN CONTROL OF PHYSIOLOGY

9. NUTRITION AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

10. HORMONES AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

10.1 PROLACTIN

10.2 VASOPRESSIN

10.3 OXYTOCIN

10.4 ESTROGENS

10.5 ANDROGENS

10.6 THYROID

11. PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND NEUROBIOLOGY

12. NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY

13. REGULATION OF ARousal: WAKENESS, ALERTNESS, AND SLEEP CYCLES

14. THE STUDY OF THE BRAIN

14.1 HEMODYNAMIC AND ELECTROMAGNETIC TECHNIQUES

14.2 METABOLIC ACTIVITY OF THE BRAIN

14.3 ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF THE BRAIN

14.4 EXPERIMENTAL ABLATION STUDIES

15. HUMAN SUFFERING AS A MEDICAL PROBLEM

Class 1 - Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, and Psychobiology
Class 1 Neuroscience, Neuropsychology, and Psychobiology
SUN. 15 OCT 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
In this class, we will provide a comprehensive introduction to the structure and function of the nervous system, exploring its main structures. We will also study brain neurobiology, introducing key concepts such as the function of neurotransmitters and processes such as neural neuroplasticity. Introductory aspects of neuroendocrinology will also be covered. This will provide a general overview of the nervous system explained in an educational manner, serving as a conceptual framework to facilitate the study of the following topics.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. NEUROANATOMY AND FUNCTION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

2.1 BRAIN STEM AND DIENCEPHALON

2.2 CEREBELLUM

2.3 FRONTAL LOBES

2.4 PARIETAL LOBE

2.5 OCCIPITAL LOBE

2.6 TEMPORAL LOBE

2.7 BASAL GANGLIA, HIPPOCAMPUS, AND AMYGDALA

2.8 SIGNIFICANCE

2.9 CONSCIOUSNESS

2.10 BRAIN NETWORKS AND FUNCTIONAL CONNECTIVITY

2.11 AUTONOMOUS NERVOUS SYSTEM

3. MOTION CONTROL

4. EVOLUTION AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

5. INTRODUCTION TO THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF THE CNS

6. NEUROPLASTICITY, CREATING PATHWAYS OF ACTIVITY

7. NEUROTRANSMITTERS

7.1 SYNAPSES

7.2 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

7.3 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL DRUGS AND NEUROPLASTICITY

7.4 SEROTONIN

7.5 GABA

7.6 NOREPINEPHRINE AND ADRENALINE


7.7 HISTAMINE

7.8 DOPAMINE

7.9 OREXIN

7.10 ADENOSINE

7.11 GLUTAMATE

7.12 ACETYLCHOLINE

8. TOP-DOWN CONTROL OF PHYSIOLOGY

9. NUTRITION AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

10. HORMONES AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

10.1 PROLACTIN

10.2 VASOPRESSIN

10.3 OXYTOCIN

10.4 ESTROGENS

10.5 ANDROGENS

10.6 THYROID

11. PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND NEUROBIOLOGY

12. NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY

13. REGULATION OF ARousal: WAKENESS, ALERTNESS, AND SLEEP CYCLES

14. THE STUDY OF THE BRAIN

14.1 HEMODYNAMIC AND ELECTROMAGNETIC TECHNIQUES

14.2 METABOLIC ACTIVITY OF THE BRAIN

14.3 ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF THE BRAIN

14.4 EXPERIMENTAL ABLATION STUDIES

15. HUMAN SUFFERING AS A MEDICAL PROBLEM

Class 2 - Neurobiology of Emotions and Reward System
Class 2 Neurobiology of Emotions and Reward System
An in-depth study of the neurobiology of the reward system is conducted, beginning with an introduction to the physiology of hedonic hotspots, their role in motivated behavior, and the role of dopamine in anticipation, behavior selection, and reinforcement based on consequences. We will study how subcortical striatal systems play a fundamental role in our decisions and in many types of disorders. Emotions are also studied, their evolutionary and adaptive function at the level of applied neuroscience, starting from the early theories of William James and Walter Cannon, to Joseph LeDoux, Panksepp, and Damasio, among others. We will provide some clinical and contextual insights at the level of marketing, social media, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION TO PLEASURE

1.1 PHYSIOLOGY OF PLEASURE

1.2 CONSTRUCTION OF PLEASURE

2. HEDONIC HOTSPOTS

2.1 CODING OF PLEASURE VS CAUSE OF PLEASURE

2.2 DESIRE, PLEASURE, AND LEARNING

2.3 REWARD MAPPING

2.4 IMPULSIVITY, COMPULSION, AND REINFORCEMENT

2.5 CONSCIOUS PLEASURE VS. UNCONSCIOUS PLEASURE

2.6 HABITUATION, TOLERANCE, AND DEPENDENCE

3. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PLEASURE

3.1 PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND PLEASURE

3.2 FOOD AND PLEASURE

4. BEHAVIOR SELECTION

4.1 BASAL GANGLIA AND BEHAVIOR SELECTION

5. FUNCTION OF THE BASAL GANGLIA

5.1 PREDICTION, ANTICIPATION, AND MOTIVATION

5.2 PREDICTION ERROR

5.3 DOPAMINE, MOTIVATION, AND GOAL-DIRECTED BEHAVIOR

5.4 PLEASURE EXPERIENCE: VENTRAL STRIA and ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX

5.5 REWARD VALUATION, COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS, AND DECISIONS: PREFRONTAL CORTEX

5.6 ANTICIPATION AND DESIRE: LEARNING FROM REWARD


6. PLEASURE AND HAPPINESS

7. REWARD AND MARKETING

8. REWARDS AND SOCIAL NETWORKS

9. FINAL COMMENTS ON REWARDS

10. EMOTIONS

11. THE STUDY OF EMOTIONS

11.1 WILLIAM JAMES AND WALTER CANNON

11.2 COGNITIVE EVALUATION OF EMOTIONS

11.3 JOSEPH LEDOUX

11.4 BASIC EMOTIONS AND UNIVERSALITY

11.5 HEMISPHERIC LATERALITY

11.6 SOMATIC MARKERS

11.7 CEREBRAL CORTEX AND EMOTIONS

11.8 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTIVISM

11.9 PANKSEPP AND BARRETT

11.10 MOTIVATION VS EMOTIONS

11.11 EMOTIONAL REGULATION

11.12 DEFENSE MECHANISMS

11.13 EUSTRESS AND DISTESS

11.14 EXTINCTION

11.15 EMOTIONS AND DISORDERS

11.16 THE EGO AS AN EMOTION

11.17 AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF INPUTS AND MODULATION OF OUTPUTS

12. EMOTIONS AND CONSCIOUSNESS

13. FINAL COMMENTS

 
Class 2 - Neurobiology of Emotions and Reward System
Class 2 Neurobiology of Emotions and Reward System
SUN. 29 OCT 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
An in-depth study of the neurobiology of the reward system is conducted, beginning with an introduction to the physiology of hedonic hotspots, their role in motivated behavior, and the role of dopamine in anticipation, behavior selection, and reinforcement based on consequences. We will study how subcortical striatal systems play a fundamental role in our decisions and in many types of disorders. Emotions are also studied, their evolutionary and adaptive function at the level of applied neuroscience, starting from the early theories of William James and Walter Cannon, to Joseph LeDoux, Panksepp, and Damasio, among others. We will provide some clinical and contextual insights at the level of marketing, social media, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION TO PLEASURE

1.1 PHYSIOLOGY OF PLEASURE

1.2 CONSTRUCTION OF PLEASURE

2. HEDONIC HOTSPOTS

2.1 CODING OF PLEASURE VS CAUSE OF PLEASURE

2.2 DESIRE, PLEASURE, AND LEARNING

2.3 REWARD MAPPING

2.4 IMPULSIVITY, COMPULSION, AND REINFORCEMENT

2.5 CONSCIOUS PLEASURE VS. UNCONSCIOUS PLEASURE

2.6 HABITUATION, TOLERANCE, AND DEPENDENCE

3. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PLEASURE

3.1 PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND PLEASURE

3.2 FOOD AND PLEASURE

4. BEHAVIOR SELECTION

4.1 BASAL GANGLIA AND BEHAVIOR SELECTION

5. FUNCTION OF THE BASAL GANGLIA

5.1 PREDICTION, ANTICIPATION, AND MOTIVATION

5.2 PREDICTION ERROR

5.3 DOPAMINE, MOTIVATION, AND GOAL-DIRECTED BEHAVIOR

5.4 PLEASURE EXPERIENCE: VENTRAL STRIA and ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX

5.5 REWARD VALUATION, COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS, AND DECISIONS: PREFRONTAL CORTEX

5.6 ANTICIPATION AND DESIRE: LEARNING FROM REWARD


6. PLEASURE AND HAPPINESS

7. REWARD AND MARKETING

8. REWARDS AND SOCIAL NETWORKS

9. FINAL COMMENTS ON REWARDS

10. EMOTIONS

11. THE STUDY OF EMOTIONS

11.1 WILLIAM JAMES AND WALTER CANNON

11.2 COGNITIVE EVALUATION OF EMOTIONS

11.3 JOSEPH LEDOUX

11.4 BASIC EMOTIONS AND UNIVERSALITY

11.5 HEMISPHERIC LATERALITY

11.6 SOMATIC MARKERS

11.7 CEREBRAL CORTEX AND EMOTIONS

11.8 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTIVISM

11.9 PANKSEPP AND BARRETT

11.10 MOTIVATION VS EMOTIONS

11.11 EMOTIONAL REGULATION

11.12 DEFENSE MECHANISMS

11.13 EUSTRESS AND DISTESS

11.14 EXTINCTION

11.15 EMOTIONS AND DISORDERS

11.16 THE EGO AS AN EMOTION

11.17 AUTOMATIC SELECTION OF INPUTS AND MODULATION OF OUTPUTS

12. EMOTIONS AND CONSCIOUSNESS

13. FINAL COMMENTS

Class 3 - Behavioral and Learning Psychology
Class 3 Behavioral and Learning Psychology
The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying learning and its different types are addressed, starting with basic associative and operant learning processes, studying them at the neurobiological level as applied to real behavior, with everyday examples for understanding. We will explore how reward is learned and how emotions control behavior through operant consequences, and in turn, how operant effects occur at the neuroadaptive level in different systems that produce behavior control. The interaction between culture, biology, and environment is also addressed.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. LEARNING

2.1 NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF LEARNING

3. TYPES OF LEARNING

3.1 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

3.2 OPERANT CONDITIONING

3.3 LEARNING REWARD

3.4 BEHAVIOR CONTROL THROUGH EMOTIONS

3.5 WHAT PRODUCES REINFORCEMENT AT THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL LEVEL?

4. INTELLIGENCE

4.1 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND INTELLIGENCE


4.2 ONTOGENETIC DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENCE

4.3 HERITABILITY AND BEHAVIOR

5. PROBLEM SOLVING

6. REWARDS AND LEARNING

7. REINFORCEMENT AND DELAY TIME

8. REINFORCEMENT AND ADDICTION

9. REFLECTIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE, BIOLOGY, AND ENVIRONMENT

10. MOTIVATED BEHAVIOR

11. VICARIOUS LEARNING AND ROLES

12. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR

13. FINAL THOUGHTS

Class 3 - Behavioral and Learning Psychology
Class 3 Behavioral and Learning Psychology
SUN. 12 NOV 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying learning and its different types are addressed, starting with basic associative and operant learning processes, studying them at the neurobiological level as applied to real behavior, with everyday examples for understanding. We will explore how reward is learned and how emotions control behavior through operant consequences, and in turn, how operant effects occur at the neuroadaptive level in different systems that produce behavior control. The interaction between culture, biology, and environment is also addressed.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. LEARNING

2.1 NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF LEARNING

3. TYPES OF LEARNING

3.1 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

3.2 OPERANT CONDITIONING

3.3 LEARNING REWARD

3.4 BEHAVIOR CONTROL THROUGH EMOTIONS

3.5 WHAT PRODUCES REINFORCEMENT AT THE NEUROBIOLOGICAL LEVEL?

4. INTELLIGENCE

4.1 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND INTELLIGENCE


4.2 ONTOGENETIC DEVELOPMENT OF INTELLIGENCE

4.3 HERITABILITY AND BEHAVIOR

5. PROBLEM SOLVING

6. REWARDS AND LEARNING

7. REINFORCEMENT AND DELAY TIME

8. REINFORCEMENT AND ADDICTION

9. REFLECTIONS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CULTURE, BIOLOGY, AND ENVIRONMENT

10. MOTIVATED BEHAVIOR

11. VICARIOUS LEARNING AND ROLES

12. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR

13. FINAL THOUGHTS

Class 4 - Personality Psychology
Class 4 Personality Psychology
Trait psychology is the most robust branch of psychology, both in terms of clinical understanding of all behavior and behavioral disorders, and in terms of scientific replication within the discipline. The class begins by introducing the Big Five personality model, with an evolutionary approach applied to clinical practice. We will delve into the relationship between neurobiology and personality, the dynamic nature of personality, and its genetic, cultural, and situational influences. In this class, we will study different psychiatric disorders from the perspective of trait dimensions. We will address different aspects related to personality, such as self-esteem, locus of control, social identity, sociosexual traits, etc. Finally, we will reflect on how personality influences everyday choices such as profession, political ideology, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. BIG FIVE

2.1 EXTRAVERSION

2.2 NEUROTICISM

2.3 CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

2.4 OPENNESS

2.5 AGREEABLENESS

3. NEUROBIOLOGY AND PERSONALITY

4. PERSONALITY IS DYNAMIC

5. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY

6. SITUATIONALISM

7. GENETICS AND PERSONALITY

8. PERSONALITY DISORDERS


9. SELF-ESTEEM

9.1 LOCUS OF CONTROL AND AUTONOMY

9.2 SELF-CONCEPT, SELF-ESTEEM, AND SELF-IMAGE

9.3 SOCIO-COGNITIVE ASPECTS

9.4 SOCIAL IDENTITY

9.5 THE SELF

10. PERSONALITY AND PROFESSIONS

11. REFLECTIONS ON IDEOLOGY AND PERSONALITY

12. OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY AND PERFECTIONISM

13. SOCIO-SEXUAL TRAITS AND GENDER DIFFERENCES

14. FINAL THOUGHTS



 
Class 4 - Personality Psychology
Class 4 Personality Psychology
SUN. 26 NOV 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
Trait psychology is the most robust branch of psychology, both in terms of clinical understanding of all behavior and behavioral disorders, and in terms of scientific replication within the discipline. The class begins by introducing the Big Five personality model, with an evolutionary approach applied to clinical practice. We will delve into the relationship between neurobiology and personality, the dynamic nature of personality, and its genetic, cultural, and situational influences. In this class, we will study different psychiatric disorders from the perspective of trait dimensions. We will address different aspects related to personality, such as self-esteem, locus of control, social identity, sociosexual traits, etc. Finally, we will reflect on how personality influences everyday choices such as profession, political ideology, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. BIG FIVE

2.1 EXTRAVERSION

2.2 NEUROTICISM

2.3 CONSCIENTIOUSNESS

2.4 OPENNESS

2.5 AGREEABLENESS

3. NEUROBIOLOGY AND PERSONALITY

4. PERSONALITY IS DYNAMIC

5. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY

6. SITUATIONALISM

7. GENETICS AND PERSONALITY

8. PERSONALITY DISORDERS


9. SELF-ESTEEM

9.1 LOCUS OF CONTROL AND AUTONOMY

9.2 SELF-CONCEPT, SELF-ESTEEM, AND SELF-IMAGE

9.3 SOCIO-COGNITIVE ASPECTS

9.4 SOCIAL IDENTITY

9.5 THE SELF

10. PERSONALITY AND PROFESSIONS

11. REFLECTIONS ON IDEOLOGY AND PERSONALITY

12. OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE PERSONALITY AND PERFECTIONISM

13. SOCIO-SEXUAL TRAITS AND GENDER DIFFERENCES

14. FINAL THOUGHTS



Class 5 - Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
Class 5 Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
In this class, we will explore information processing, addressing how cognitive processes develop and are regulated, as well as the cognitive regulation of affective states and their use as ego defenses. In addition, aspects of cognitive neuroscience such as attention, memory, executive function, intelligence, etc. will be addressed. The impact of all these aspects on everyday human interaction and their relevance in different psychological disorders will be discussed.



1. MIND AND COGNITION

2. ONTOGENETIC EVOLUTION AND COGNITION

3. CATEGORIZATION AND SCHEMES

4. MEMORY TEMPORAL DIMENSION OF MEMORY
4.1 Sensory memory
4.2 Short-term memory and working memory
4.3 Long-term memory
4.4 Anatomy of memory

5. LANGUAGE
5.1 Neuroanatomy of language
5.2 Language and thought


5.3 Reading
5.4 Social networks and atrophy in information processing
5.5 Calculation

6. INTELLIGENCE
6.1 Relationship between executive functions and intelligence
6.1 Executive function

7. COGNITIVE BIASES AND DEFENSES

8. PSYCHOANALYSIS AND DEFENSE MECHANISMS
8.1 Victimization

9. COGNITIVE WORK IN THE CLINIC

10. SOCIAL COGNITION
10.1 Social networks

Class 5 - Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
Class 5 Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
SUN. 14 ENE 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
In this class, we will explore information processing, addressing how cognitive processes develop and are regulated, as well as the cognitive regulation of affective states and their use as ego defenses. In addition, aspects of cognitive neuroscience such as attention, memory, executive function, intelligence, etc. will be addressed. The impact of all these aspects on everyday human interaction and their relevance in different psychological disorders will be discussed.



1. MIND AND COGNITION

2. ONTOGENETIC EVOLUTION AND COGNITION

3. CATEGORIZATION AND SCHEMES

4. MEMORY TEMPORAL DIMENSION OF MEMORY
4.1 Sensory memory
4.2 Short-term memory and working memory
4.3 Long-term memory
4.4 Anatomy of memory

5. LANGUAGE
5.1 Neuroanatomy of language
5.2 Language and thought


5.3 Reading
5.4 Social networks and atrophy in information processing
5.5 Calculation

6. INTELLIGENCE
6.1 Relationship between executive functions and intelligence
6.1 Executive function

7. COGNITIVE BIASES AND DEFENSES

8. PSYCHOANALYSIS AND DEFENSE MECHANISMS
8.1 Victimization

9. COGNITIVE WORK IN THE CLINIC

10. SOCIAL COGNITION
10.1 Social networks

Class 6 - Psychology of Happiness
Class 6 Psychology of Happiness
Is there anything written about happiness that isn't superficial concepts found in all kinds of self-help books? Far from almost everything that has been written about happiness, there is a solid scientific basis that encompasses sociological, biological, behavioral, and cognitive levels. This topic explores social determinants of happiness, the neurobiology of positive emotions, the interaction between reward systems and psychological well-being, and more. However, it is crucial to understand the evolutionary meaning of what our biology and psychosocial adjustment need, and how all of this is deeply linked to personality. Far from generic advice and superficial activities, happiness has deep foundations that allow us to understand it and work on it by understanding individual psychological differences, even in a world that operates at an ever-increasing distance from people.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. HAPPINESS, LEARNING, AND THE FRONTAL LOBES

3. HAPPINESS, MOTIVATION, AND SUBJECTIVITY

4. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND PLEASURE

5. PSYCHOLOGY OF HAPPINESS

5.1 HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY

5.2 POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

6. EVOLUTION AND HAPPINESS

6.1 PLAY, LAUGHTER, AND HUMOR

7. SCIENCE AND HAPPINESS

7.1 RESEARCH ON HAPPINESS

8. DETERMINANTS OF HAPPINESS

8.1 WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT

8.2 POSITIVE AFFECTION

8.3 FLUID EXPERIENCE


8.4 WORK AND HAPPINESS

8.5 MONEY AND WEALTH

8.6 PERSONALITY AND HAPPINESS

8.7 HAPPINESS AND HEALTH

8.8 SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

8.9 EXTREME EVENTS

8.10 HEDONIC AND PROPOSITIVE

8.11 HAPPINESS AND SELF-ESTEEM

8.12 HAPPINESS AND SELF-CONCEPT

8.13 HAPPINESS, VICTIMS OF EXPECTATIONS?

9. HAPPINESS IS THE RESULT OF WORKING EVERY DAY

9.1 HAPPINESS FROM DEMOTIVATION, ANHEDONIA, AND APATHY

9.2 WHAT HAPPINESS IS NOT

10. FINAL THOUGHTS

 
Class 6 - Psychology of Happiness
Class 6 Psychology of Happiness
SUN. 17 DIC 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
Is there anything written about happiness that isn't superficial concepts found in all kinds of self-help books? Far from almost everything that has been written about happiness, there is a solid scientific basis that encompasses sociological, biological, behavioral, and cognitive levels. This topic explores social determinants of happiness, the neurobiology of positive emotions, the interaction between reward systems and psychological well-being, and more. However, it is crucial to understand the evolutionary meaning of what our biology and psychosocial adjustment need, and how all of this is deeply linked to personality. Far from generic advice and superficial activities, happiness has deep foundations that allow us to understand it and work on it by understanding individual psychological differences, even in a world that operates at an ever-increasing distance from people.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. HAPPINESS, LEARNING, AND THE FRONTAL LOBES

3. HAPPINESS, MOTIVATION, AND SUBJECTIVITY

4. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HAPPINESS AND PLEASURE

5. PSYCHOLOGY OF HAPPINESS

5.1 HUMANISTIC PSYCHOLOGY

5.2 POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY

6. EVOLUTION AND HAPPINESS

6.1 PLAY, LAUGHTER, AND HUMOR

7. SCIENCE AND HAPPINESS

7.1 RESEARCH ON HAPPINESS

8. DETERMINANTS OF HAPPINESS

8.1 WORLD HAPPINESS REPORT

8.2 POSITIVE AFFECTION

8.3 FLUID EXPERIENCE


8.4 WORK AND HAPPINESS

8.5 MONEY AND WEALTH

8.6 PERSONALITY AND HAPPINESS

8.7 HAPPINESS AND HEALTH

8.8 SPIRITUALITY AND RELIGION

8.9 EXTREME EVENTS

8.10 HEDONIC AND PROPOSITIVE

8.11 HAPPINESS AND SELF-ESTEEM

8.12 HAPPINESS AND SELF-CONCEPT

8.13 HAPPINESS, VICTIMS OF EXPECTATIONS?

9. HAPPINESS IS THE RESULT OF WORKING EVERY DAY

9.1 HAPPINESS FROM DEMOTIVATION, ANHEDONIA, AND APATHY

9.2 WHAT HAPPINESS IS NOT

10. FINAL THOUGHTS

Class 7 - Social Psychology, Attachment, and Morality
Class 7 Social Psychology, Attachment, and Morality
In this class, we will cover the fundamentals of social psychology, beginning with the development of the social brain at the level of functional anatomy and neurodevelopment. We will explore attachment theory, its main styles, and its impact on human relationships, as well as its role in psychotherapy. Additionally, we will study the biological bases of attachment and social behavior, at the level of evolution and the origin of cooperation, altruism, morality, reputation, prosocial behavior, social cognition, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIAL BRAIN

2.1 ANATOMY OF THE SOCIAL BRAIN

2.2 NEURODEVELOPMENT AND NEURONAL DAMAGE

2.3 THEORY OF MIND

3. EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND ATTACHMENT

3.1 ATTACHMENT

4. ATTACHMENT STYLES

4.1 SECURE ATTACHMENT

4.2 AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT

4.3 AMBIVALENT ATTACHMENT

4.4 DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENT


4.5 ATTACHMENT IN PARENTS

5. PSYCHOTHERAPY BASED ON ATTACHMENT

5.1 SOCIO-STRUCTURAL GRADIENT

6. IDENTITY

7. ARE ALTRUISM AND COOPERATION SELFLESS?

7.1 EVOLUTION OF COOPERATION AND HELPING BEHAVIOR

7.2 SOCIAL COGNITION AND REPUTATION

8. HOW SOCIAL PHENOMENA ARE REINFORCED

9. FINAL THOUGHTS

Class 7 - Social Psychology, Attachment, and Morality
Class 7 Social Psychology, Attachment, and Morality
SUN. 10 DIC 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
In this class, we will cover the fundamentals of social psychology, beginning with the development of the social brain at the level of functional anatomy and neurodevelopment. We will explore attachment theory, its main styles, and its impact on human relationships, as well as its role in psychotherapy. Additionally, we will study the biological bases of attachment and social behavior, at the level of evolution and the origin of cooperation, altruism, morality, reputation, prosocial behavior, social cognition, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIAL BRAIN

2.1 ANATOMY OF THE SOCIAL BRAIN

2.2 NEURODEVELOPMENT AND NEURONAL DAMAGE

2.3 THEORY OF MIND

3. EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND ATTACHMENT

3.1 ATTACHMENT

4. ATTACHMENT STYLES

4.1 SECURE ATTACHMENT

4.2 AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT

4.3 AMBIVALENT ATTACHMENT

4.4 DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENT


4.5 ATTACHMENT IN PARENTS

5. PSYCHOTHERAPY BASED ON ATTACHMENT

5.1 SOCIO-STRUCTURAL GRADIENT

6. IDENTITY

7. ARE ALTRUISM AND COOPERATION SELFLESS?

7.1 EVOLUTION OF COOPERATION AND HELPING BEHAVIOR

7.2 SOCIAL COGNITION AND REPUTATION

8. HOW SOCIAL PHENOMENA ARE REINFORCED

9. FINAL THOUGHTS

SPECIALIST DIPLOMA IN THERAPEUTIC NEUROSCIENCE (25 ECTS)
Class 1 - Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology
Class 1 Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology
The study of psychopathology and psychopharmacology is approached by integrating models of trait analysis, behavior, clinical diagnosis, biological factors, and response to pharmacological treatments. This class provides a comprehensive overview, from the historical evolution of psychiatric diagnosis to current issues in interpreting the prevalence of different disorders, as well as the questionable diversity of diagnostic categories. The main biological hypotheses involved in the etiopathogenesis of mental disorders and the fundamentals of applied psychopharmacology are analyzed. Finally, the concept of "disorder" itself and its therapeutic and social implications will be reflected upon.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. A BRIEF HISTORICAL APPROACH TO PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS

3. THE PROBLEMS OF PREVALENCE

4. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

4.1. HISTORY OF MOOD DISORDERS

4.2. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA AND DEPRESSION

5. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

6. BIOLOGICAL HYPOTHESES AND PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

7. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY IN AFFECTIVE AND ANXIETY DISORDERS


7.1. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL SPECIFICITY

8. DIAGNOSTIC SCALES

9. SCHIZOPHRENIA

10. ADHD

11. AUTISM

12. ASD VS OCD VS ADHD VS ED

13. REFLECTIONS ON THE CONCEPT OF DISORDER

13.1. THE THERAPEUTIC STATE

14. CONCLUSION

Class 1 - Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology
Class 1 Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology
SUN. 10 MAR 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
The study of psychopathology and psychopharmacology is approached by integrating models of trait analysis, behavior, clinical diagnosis, biological factors, and response to pharmacological treatments. This class provides a comprehensive overview, from the historical evolution of psychiatric diagnosis to current issues in interpreting the prevalence of different disorders, as well as the questionable diversity of diagnostic categories. The main biological hypotheses involved in the etiopathogenesis of mental disorders and the fundamentals of applied psychopharmacology are analyzed. Finally, the concept of "disorder" itself and its therapeutic and social implications will be reflected upon.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. A BRIEF HISTORICAL APPROACH TO PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS

3. THE PROBLEMS OF PREVALENCE

4. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

4.1. HISTORY OF MOOD DISORDERS

4.2. DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA AND DEPRESSION

5. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

6. BIOLOGICAL HYPOTHESES AND PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY

7. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY IN AFFECTIVE AND ANXIETY DISORDERS


7.1. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGICAL SPECIFICITY

8. DIAGNOSTIC SCALES

9. SCHIZOPHRENIA

10. ADHD

11. AUTISM

12. ASD VS OCD VS ADHD VS ED

13. REFLECTIONS ON THE CONCEPT OF DISORDER

13.1. THE THERAPEUTIC STATE

14. CONCLUSION

Class 2 - Insomnia, Fatigue, and Sleep Hygiene
Class 2 Insomnia, Fatigue, and Sleep Hygiene
Some studies suggest that around 20% of primary care consultations are related to tiredness, fatigue, and insomnia. Despite this, sleep hygiene is widely unknown among medical professionals and in the healthcare system in general. Although we are constantly told to sleep eight hours a night, the restorative effect of sleep is not related to the amount of time spent sleeping, but rather to the quality of sleep, which is largely determined not by what we do to fall asleep, but by what we do during the day, our chronobiological adjustment, morning light patterns, etc. This class provides a comprehensive overview of sleep and fatigue, as well as a comprehensive approach to improving sleep from its most important fundamentals.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. BIOLOGY OF REST

2.1 FUNCTION OF SLEEP

2.2 WHY DO WE DREAM?

2.3 NEUROENDOCRINE CONTROL OF REST

2.4 NEUROANATOMY OF SLEEP AND WAKENESS

2.5 NEUROBIOLOGY OF SLEEP

2.6 STAGES OF SLEEP

3. CHRONOBIOLOGY AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS IN SLEEP REGULATION

3.1 MELATONIN

3.2 LIGHT

3.3 TEMPERATURE

3.4 THE MOON

4. REST AND HEALTH

4.1 PSYCHOSOCIAL GRADIENT

4.2 LONG SLEEPERS AND SHORT SLEEPERS

4.3 THE ELDERLY

4.3 THE NAP

4.4 SLEEP AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH


4.5 ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

5. SLEEP HYGIENE

5.1 LIGHT

5.2 TEMPERATURE

5.3 CLOTHING

5.4 ERGONOMICS AND REST

5.5 DIET

5.6 EXERCISE

5.7 SLEEPING WITH CHILDREN

5.8 SUPPLEMENTS

5.9 ENERGIZERS

5.10 COFFEE

5.11 ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

6. FATIGUE

6.1 CENTRAL FATIGUE VS PERIPHERAL FATIGUE

6.2 ENERGY MODEL OF FATIGUE

6.3 MOTIVATIONAL THEORY OF FATIGUE

6.4 MOTIVATION CONTROL

7. NATIONAL SLEEP FOUNDATION SLEEP RECOMMENDATIONS

 
Class 2 - Insomnia, Fatigue, and Sleep Hygiene
Class 2 Insomnia, Fatigue, and Sleep Hygiene
SUN. 24 MAR 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Álvaro Campillo
Some studies suggest that around 20% of primary care consultations are related to tiredness, fatigue, and insomnia. Despite this, sleep hygiene is widely unknown among medical professionals and in the healthcare system in general. Although we are constantly told to sleep eight hours a night, the restorative effect of sleep is not related to the amount of time spent sleeping, but rather to the quality of sleep, which is largely determined not by what we do to fall asleep, but by what we do during the day, our chronobiological adjustment, morning light patterns, etc. This class provides a comprehensive overview of sleep and fatigue, as well as a comprehensive approach to improving sleep from its most important fundamentals.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. BIOLOGY OF REST

2.1 FUNCTION OF SLEEP

2.2 WHY DO WE DREAM?

2.3 NEUROENDOCRINE CONTROL OF REST

2.4 NEUROANATOMY OF SLEEP AND WAKENESS

2.5 NEUROBIOLOGY OF SLEEP

2.6 STAGES OF SLEEP

3. CHRONOBIOLOGY AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS IN SLEEP REGULATION

3.1 MELATONIN

3.2 LIGHT

3.3 TEMPERATURE

3.4 THE MOON

4. REST AND HEALTH

4.1 PSYCHOSOCIAL GRADIENT

4.2 LONG SLEEPERS AND SHORT SLEEPERS

4.3 THE ELDERLY

4.3 THE NAP

4.4 SLEEP AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH


4.5 ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

5. SLEEP HYGIENE

5.1 LIGHT

5.2 TEMPERATURE

5.3 CLOTHING

5.4 ERGONOMICS AND REST

5.5 DIET

5.6 EXERCISE

5.7 SLEEPING WITH CHILDREN

5.8 SUPPLEMENTS

5.9 ENERGIZERS

5.10 COFFEE

5.11 ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

6. FATIGUE

6.1 CENTRAL FATIGUE VS PERIPHERAL FATIGUE

6.2 ENERGY MODEL OF FATIGUE

6.3 MOTIVATIONAL THEORY OF FATIGUE

6.4 MOTIVATION CONTROL

7. NATIONAL SLEEP FOUNDATION SLEEP RECOMMENDATIONS

Class 3 - Depression, Mood Disorders
Class 3 Depression, Mood Disorders
Depression and mood disorders represent one of the greatest challenges in mental health, and are poorly understood conditions. This topic therefore addresses depression from an evolutionary and adaptive perspective, which is key to truly understanding mood disorders, integrating it at the level of traits, hedonic, cognitive, executive, affective, behavioral, experiential, relational, and social mechanisms. It is therefore a comprehensive approach to depression and mood difficulties from their core foundations, which allows for the correct guidance of clinical practice in psychology, medicine, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. EVOLUTION OF DEPRESSION

3. DIAGNOSIS AND PREVALENCE

4. ANATOMY OF DEPRESSION

4.1 TOP-DOWN CONTROL

5. COGNITION AND DEPRESSION

5.1 WORRY, OBSESSIONS, AND COMPULSIONS

5.2 ATTRIBUTIONAL STYLE

5.3 DEPRESSION AS A COGNITIVE AND EXECUTIVE PROBLEM

6. EMOTIONS

6.1 POSITIVE AFFECT, ATTENTION, AND RUMINATION

6.2 INTERHEMISPHERIC VARIABILITY AND HEMISPHERIC ASYMMETRY

6.3 COGNITION AS THREAT AVOIDANCE

7. LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR

7.1 HABITS

7.2 REINFORCEMENT AND CONDITIONING IN DEPRESSION

8. REWARD SYSTEM

8.1 DOPAMINE, MOTIVATION, AND GOAL-DIRECTED BEHAVIOR

8.2 PLEASURE EXPERIENCE: VENTRAL STRIA and ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX


8.3 REWARD EVALUATION, COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS, AND DECISION-MAKING: PREFRONTAL CORTEX

8.4 PREDICTION, ANTICIPATION, AND MOTIVATION

8.5 ANHEDONIA AND AVOLITION

9. NEUROBIOLOGY OF DEPRESSION

9.1 MOST IMPORTANT MONOAMINERGIC PROJECTIONS

9.2 EXERCISE

9.3 THE SEROTONIN HYPOTHESIS

9.4 ELEVATED SEROTONIN

9.5 PRODEPRESSANTS

10. DEPRESSION, DRUGS, AND ROCK AND ROLL

10.1 OPIOIDS

10.2 GLUTAMATE AND NMDA RECEPTORS

11. ANXIETY

11.1 EVOLUTION

11.2 ANHEDONIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION

11.3 CLINICAL

11.4 NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF ANXIETY

12. NEUROBIOLOGY AND ANXIETY

12.1 ENDOCRINOLOGY

13. CONCLUSION

Class 3 - Depression, Mood Disorders
Class 3 Depression, Mood Disorders
SUN. 28 ENE 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
Depression and mood disorders represent one of the greatest challenges in mental health, and are poorly understood conditions. This topic therefore addresses depression from an evolutionary and adaptive perspective, which is key to truly understanding mood disorders, integrating it at the level of traits, hedonic, cognitive, executive, affective, behavioral, experiential, relational, and social mechanisms. It is therefore a comprehensive approach to depression and mood difficulties from their core foundations, which allows for the correct guidance of clinical practice in psychology, medicine, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. EVOLUTION OF DEPRESSION

3. DIAGNOSIS AND PREVALENCE

4. ANATOMY OF DEPRESSION

4.1 TOP-DOWN CONTROL

5. COGNITION AND DEPRESSION

5.1 WORRY, OBSESSIONS, AND COMPULSIONS

5.2 ATTRIBUTIONAL STYLE

5.3 DEPRESSION AS A COGNITIVE AND EXECUTIVE PROBLEM

6. EMOTIONS

6.1 POSITIVE AFFECT, ATTENTION, AND RUMINATION

6.2 INTERHEMISPHERIC VARIABILITY AND HEMISPHERIC ASYMMETRY

6.3 COGNITION AS THREAT AVOIDANCE

7. LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR

7.1 HABITS

7.2 REINFORCEMENT AND CONDITIONING IN DEPRESSION

8. REWARD SYSTEM

8.1 DOPAMINE, MOTIVATION, AND GOAL-DIRECTED BEHAVIOR

8.2 PLEASURE EXPERIENCE: VENTRAL STRIA and ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX


8.3 REWARD EVALUATION, COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS, AND DECISION-MAKING: PREFRONTAL CORTEX

8.4 PREDICTION, ANTICIPATION, AND MOTIVATION

8.5 ANHEDONIA AND AVOLITION

9. NEUROBIOLOGY OF DEPRESSION

9.1 MOST IMPORTANT MONOAMINERGIC PROJECTIONS

9.2 EXERCISE

9.3 THE SEROTONIN HYPOTHESIS

9.4 ELEVATED SEROTONIN

9.5 PRODEPRESSANTS

10. DEPRESSION, DRUGS, AND ROCK AND ROLL

10.1 OPIOIDS

10.2 GLUTAMATE AND NMDA RECEPTORS

11. ANXIETY

11.1 EVOLUTION

11.2 ANHEDONIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION

11.3 CLINICAL

11.4 NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF ANXIETY

12. NEUROBIOLOGY AND ANXIETY

12.1 ENDOCRINOLOGY

13. CONCLUSION

Class 4 - Anxiety Disorders
Class 4 Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent groups in clinical practice, with a significant impact on quality of life. This class focuses on providing a comprehensive overview from a neurobiological, psychological, and clinical perspective, addressing their evolutionary roots, physiological mechanisms, and the relationship between anxiety and depression. It is therefore a topic closely related to mood disorders, providing continuity to the previous topic. The course analyzes the learning processes that reinforce anxiety disorders, phobias, avoidance defenses, coping mechanisms, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. EVOLUTION OF DEPRESSION

3. DIAGNOSIS AND PREVALENCE

4. ANATOMY OF DEPRESSION

4.1 TOP-DOWN CONTROL

5. COGNITION AND DEPRESSION

5.1 CONCERN, OBSESSIONS, AND COMPULSIONS

5.2 ATTRIBUTIONAL STYLE

5.3 DEPRESSION AS A COGNITIVE AND EXECUTIVE PROBLEM

6. EMOTIONS

6.1 POSITIVE AFFECT, ATTENTION, AND RUMINATION

6.2 INTERHEMISPHERIC VARIABILITY AND HEMISPHERIC ASYMMETRY

6.3 COGNITION AS THREAT AVOIDANCE

7. LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR

7.1 HABITS

7.2 REINFORCEMENT AND CONDITIONING IN DEPRESSION

8. REWARD SYSTEM

8.1 DOPAMINE, MOTIVATION, AND GOAL-DIRECTED BEHAVIOR

8.2 PLEASURE EXPERIENCE: VENTRAL STRIA and ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX


8.3 REWARD EVALUATION, COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS, AND DECISION-MAKING: PREFRONTAL CORTEX

8.4 PREDICTION, ANTICIPATION, AND MOTIVATION

8.5 ANHEDONIA AND AVOLITION

9. NEUROBIOLOGY OF DEPRESSION

9.1 MOST IMPORTANT MONOAMINERGIC PROJECTIONS

9.2 EXERCISE

9.3 THE SEROTONIN HYPOTHESIS

9.4 ELEVATED SEROTONIN

9.5 PRODEPRESSANTS

10. DEPRESSION, DRUGS, AND ROCK AND ROLL

10.1 OPIOIDS

10.2 GLUTAMATE AND NMDA RECEPTORS

11. ANXIETY

11.1 EVOLUTION

11.2 ANHEDONIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION

11.3 CLINICAL

11.4 NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF ANXIETY

12. NEUROBIOLOGY AND ANXIETY

12.1 ENDOCRINOLOGY

13. CONCLUSION

 
Class 4 - Anxiety Disorders
Class 4 Anxiety Disorders
SUN. 28 ENE 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
Anxiety disorders are one of the most prevalent groups in clinical practice, with a significant impact on quality of life. This class focuses on providing a comprehensive overview from a neurobiological, psychological, and clinical perspective, addressing their evolutionary roots, physiological mechanisms, and the relationship between anxiety and depression. It is therefore a topic closely related to mood disorders, providing continuity to the previous topic. The course analyzes the learning processes that reinforce anxiety disorders, phobias, avoidance defenses, coping mechanisms, etc.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. EVOLUTION OF DEPRESSION

3. DIAGNOSIS AND PREVALENCE

4. ANATOMY OF DEPRESSION

4.1 TOP-DOWN CONTROL

5. COGNITION AND DEPRESSION

5.1 CONCERN, OBSESSIONS, AND COMPULSIONS

5.2 ATTRIBUTIONAL STYLE

5.3 DEPRESSION AS A COGNITIVE AND EXECUTIVE PROBLEM

6. EMOTIONS

6.1 POSITIVE AFFECT, ATTENTION, AND RUMINATION

6.2 INTERHEMISPHERIC VARIABILITY AND HEMISPHERIC ASYMMETRY

6.3 COGNITION AS THREAT AVOIDANCE

7. LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR

7.1 HABITS

7.2 REINFORCEMENT AND CONDITIONING IN DEPRESSION

8. REWARD SYSTEM

8.1 DOPAMINE, MOTIVATION, AND GOAL-DIRECTED BEHAVIOR

8.2 PLEASURE EXPERIENCE: VENTRAL STRIA and ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX


8.3 REWARD EVALUATION, COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS, AND DECISION-MAKING: PREFRONTAL CORTEX

8.4 PREDICTION, ANTICIPATION, AND MOTIVATION

8.5 ANHEDONIA AND AVOLITION

9. NEUROBIOLOGY OF DEPRESSION

9.1 MOST IMPORTANT MONOAMINERGIC PROJECTIONS

9.2 EXERCISE

9.3 THE SEROTONIN HYPOTHESIS

9.4 ELEVATED SEROTONIN

9.5 PRODEPRESSANTS

10. DEPRESSION, DRUGS, AND ROCK AND ROLL

10.1 OPIOIDS

10.2 GLUTAMATE AND NMDA RECEPTORS

11. ANXIETY

11.1 EVOLUTION

11.2 ANHEDONIA, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION

11.3 CLINICAL

11.4 NEUROPHYSIOLOGY OF ANXIETY

12. NEUROBIOLOGY AND ANXIETY

12.1 ENDOCRINOLOGY

13. CONCLUSION

Class 5 - Neurobiology of Chronic Pain and the Placebo Effect
Class 5 Neurobiology of Chronic Pain and the Placebo Effect
Much of the consultation in medicine, pharmacy, nutrition, and psychology has chronic pain as a central aspect. Surprisingly, there are usually no specific courses on pain in medical and health science faculties. The perception of pain as a tissue pathology and the pharmacological view of chronic pain are reductionist and questionable, and even counterproductive, as they produce opposing neurobiological processes that make pain chronic. Thus, millions of people live with chronic pain induced by their own use of drugs, without their doctors fully understanding this reality. In this topic, we will study the relationship between functionality and pain, providing a comprehensive neurobiological, behavioral, experiential, and other perspectives for its management. Subsequently, we will address the study of the placebo effect and the influence of expectations and conditioning processes on pain and other states.



I. PAIN

1. INTRODUCTION

1.2 EVOLUTION OF PAIN

2. PAIN THROUGHOUT HISTORY

3. CLASSIFICATION OF PAIN

3.1. TYPES OF PAIN

4. ANATOMY OF PAIN

4.1 ASCENDING PATHWAYS

4.2 HIGHER CENTERS

4.3 DESCENDING PATHWAYS

4.4 NOCICEPTORS

5. NEUROBIOLOGY

6. TREATMENT

6.1 PAIN AND LEARNING

6.2 SENSITIVIZATION: THE PATH TO CHRONIC PAIN

6.3 THERAPEUTIC PAIN EDUCATION

6.4 MEMORY

6.5 PERCEPTION

6.6 COGNITION AND PAIN

6.7 PAIN AND EMOTIONS

6.8 PAIN AND MOTOR CONTROL

6.9 FUNCTIONALITY

6.10 SEX DIFFERENCES

6.11 EFFECTS ON FUNCTIONALITY AND DAILY LIFE ACTIVITIES


6.12 MYOFASCIAL PAIN

6.13 FIBROMYALGIA

7. PHARMACOLOGY

7.1 PHARMACOLOGICAL MECHANISMS

7.2 PAIN MANAGEMENT AND AN EPIDEMIC OF PREVENTABLE DEATHS

8. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET AND CHRONIC PAIN

8.1 OBESITY AND PAIN

9. INJURIES

9.1 PRINCIPLES OF REHABILITATION

9.2 LUMBAR PAIN

II. PLACEBO

10. INTRODUCTION

11. EVOLUTION

12. DEFINITION

13. MECHANISMS OF ACTION

12.1 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

12.2 EXPECTATIONS

14. REWARD SYSTEMS AND THE PLACEBO EFFECT

15. PLACEBO ETHICS

16. CLINICAL TRIALS

17. ANATOMY OF THE PLACEBO EFFECT

18. NEUROBIOLOGY

19. CONCLUSION

Class 5 - Neurobiology of Chronic Pain and the Placebo Effect
Class 5 Neurobiology of Chronic Pain and the Placebo Effect
SUN. 7 ABR 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
Much of the consultation in medicine, pharmacy, nutrition, and psychology has chronic pain as a central aspect. Surprisingly, there are usually no specific courses on pain in medical and health science faculties. The perception of pain as a tissue pathology and the pharmacological view of chronic pain are reductionist and questionable, and even counterproductive, as they produce opposing neurobiological processes that make pain chronic. Thus, millions of people live with chronic pain induced by their own use of drugs, without their doctors fully understanding this reality. In this topic, we will study the relationship between functionality and pain, providing a comprehensive neurobiological, behavioral, experiential, and other perspectives for its management. Subsequently, we will address the study of the placebo effect and the influence of expectations and conditioning processes on pain and other states.



I. PAIN

1. INTRODUCTION

1.2 EVOLUTION OF PAIN

2. PAIN THROUGHOUT HISTORY

3. CLASSIFICATION OF PAIN

3.1. TYPES OF PAIN

4. ANATOMY OF PAIN

4.1 ASCENDING PATHWAYS

4.2 HIGHER CENTERS

4.3 DESCENDING PATHWAYS

4.4 NOCICEPTORS

5. NEUROBIOLOGY

6. TREATMENT

6.1 PAIN AND LEARNING

6.2 SENSITIVIZATION: THE PATH TO CHRONIC PAIN

6.3 THERAPEUTIC PAIN EDUCATION

6.4 MEMORY

6.5 PERCEPTION

6.6 COGNITION AND PAIN

6.7 PAIN AND EMOTIONS

6.8 PAIN AND MOTOR CONTROL

6.9 FUNCTIONALITY

6.10 SEX DIFFERENCES

6.11 EFFECTS ON FUNCTIONALITY AND DAILY LIFE ACTIVITIES


6.12 MYOFASCIAL PAIN

6.13 FIBROMYALGIA

7. PHARMACOLOGY

7.1 PHARMACOLOGICAL MECHANISMS

7.2 PAIN MANAGEMENT AND AN EPIDEMIC OF PREVENTABLE DEATHS

8. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET AND CHRONIC PAIN

8.1 OBESITY AND PAIN

9. INJURIES

9.1 PRINCIPLES OF REHABILITATION

9.2 LUMBAR PAIN

II. PLACEBO

10. INTRODUCTION

11. EVOLUTION

12. DEFINITION

13. MECHANISMS OF ACTION

12.1 CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

12.2 EXPECTATIONS

14. REWARD SYSTEMS AND THE PLACEBO EFFECT

15. PLACEBO ETHICS

16. CLINICAL TRIALS

17. ANATOMY OF THE PLACEBO EFFECT

18. NEUROBIOLOGY

19. CONCLUSION

Class 6 - Neuropsychology of addiction
Class 6 Neuropsychology of addiction
Addiction is a complex phenomenon that transcends mere exposure to psychoactive substances, involving neurobiological, social, cultural, and political processes. The role of reward circuits in addiction, the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms, the impact of social stress, and available therapeutic strategies are reviewed. A critical analysis will be offered at the sociological level, including the policies behind substance regulation, which have yielded highly questionable results.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. PROHIBITION

3 PHARMACEUTICAL REGULATION

4. MEDICALIZATION OF ADDICTION. "TOXIC DRUGS" VS "THERAPEUTIC DRUGS"

5 THE "WAR ON DRUGS": RESULTS

6. NEUROBIOLOGY AND ADDICTION

6.1 ADDICTION AND THERAPY

6.2 REWARD


6.3 SOCIAL STRESS, ALTERNATIVE REINFORCEMENTS, AND CONTINGENCY PROGRAMS

6.4 NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND ADDICTION

6.5 PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPY

7. THERAPEUTIC DRUGS

7.1 TOXIC DRUGS

8. CONCLUSIONS

 
Class 6 - Neuropsychology of addiction
Class 6 Neuropsychology of addiction
SUN. 21 ABR 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
Addiction is a complex phenomenon that transcends mere exposure to psychoactive substances, involving neurobiological, social, cultural, and political processes. The role of reward circuits in addiction, the underlying neuropsychological mechanisms, the impact of social stress, and available therapeutic strategies are reviewed. A critical analysis will be offered at the sociological level, including the policies behind substance regulation, which have yielded highly questionable results.



1. INTRODUCTION

2. PROHIBITION

3 PHARMACEUTICAL REGULATION

4. MEDICALIZATION OF ADDICTION. "TOXIC DRUGS" VS "THERAPEUTIC DRUGS"

5 THE "WAR ON DRUGS": RESULTS

6. NEUROBIOLOGY AND ADDICTION

6.1 ADDICTION AND THERAPY

6.2 REWARD


6.3 SOCIAL STRESS, ALTERNATIVE REINFORCEMENTS, AND CONTINGENCY PROGRAMS

6.4 NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND ADDICTION

6.5 PHARMACOLOGICAL THERAPY

7. THERAPEUTIC DRUGS

7.1 TOXIC DRUGS

8. CONCLUSIONS

Class 7 - Neuroscience of Consciousness, the Unconscious, and Meditation
Class 7 Neuroscience of Consciousness, the Unconscious, and Meditation
This class offers an in-depth analysis of consciousness, from its evolution, anatomical and functional processes, relationship with behavior, etc. It also reflects on the concept of free will, the soft problem, and the hard problem. Classical perspectives from Jung and Freud are studied, along with the validity of their proposals in light of neuroscience, as well as the role of the unconscious in decision-making. In the second part, the connection between meditation and work at the process level rather than the content level is addressed, along with its implications for attention regulation, self-referential processes, conscious process selection, etc. Finally, neuroscientific evidence on the functional changes associated with meditation is analyzed, and its correct therapeutic applications and limitations are discussed.
Class 7 - Neuroscience of Consciousness, the Unconscious, and Meditation
Class 7 Neuroscience of Consciousness, the Unconscious, and Meditation
SUN. 14 ENE 2010 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Alfonso Bordallo
This class offers an in-depth analysis of consciousness, from its evolution, anatomical and functional processes, relationship with behavior, etc. It also reflects on the concept of free will, the soft problem, and the hard problem. Classical perspectives from Jung and Freud are studied, along with the validity of their proposals in light of neuroscience, as well as the role of the unconscious in decision-making. In the second part, the connection between meditation and work at the process level rather than the content level is addressed, along with its implications for attention regulation, self-referential processes, conscious process selection, etc. Finally, neuroscientific evidence on the functional changes associated with meditation is analyzed, and its correct therapeutic applications and limitations are discussed.
Master's Final Project
MASTER'S IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE (10 ECTS)
Master's Final Project
Master's Final Project
SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2026

The Master's Final Project at ICNS is designed to provide the student with genuine scientific competence. For this reason, the module includes several classes on searching for and interpreting scientific articles, giving the student real skills to search for and address clinical practice questions using the available scientific evidence. Additionally, a guided project is carried out, with different submissions that progressively develop the work in parts. The Master?s Final Project therefore follows a logical learning process throughout the different classes and assignments. The classes begin with the most basic concepts, so no prior knowledge is required. The project is developed in the form of continuous assessment over approximately 3 months.

  • To be eligible for the Master's Final Project, students must have passed the 2 Specialist Diploma courses and hold a university degree listed in the admission requirements.
  • students must formally request access to the Master's Final Project in order to qualify for the Master's Degree, (60 ECTS), which requires an additional payment of €.
Master's Final Project
Class 1 Search in PUBMED
Alfonso Bordallo

· Introduction to PubMed
· Search terms
· Search criteria and filters
· Clinical trials
· Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
· Narrative reviews
· Boolean operators and search strings
· Citation and export

  • Evaluation: the first work to be done by the student consists of carrying out different searches of scientific articles, and answering different questions on various issues. The student is corrected and given feedback.
Master's Final Project
Class 2 Reading Scientific Studies
Alfonso Bordallo

· Objectives of narrative reviews
· Objectives of clinical trials
· Objectives of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
· Guided reading of a clinical trial
· Key points of a clinical trial
· Forest plot and meta-analysis
· Key points for interpreting a meta-analysis

  • Evaluation: in the second assignment, the student chooses a research topic from those proposed by the professors to focus on. Several exercises must be submitted, including conducting a search for relevant articles for the chosen research, presenting key points of physiology and pathophysiology, and describing key aspects of some relevant clinical trials, among others. The work is reviewed, and a video tutoring session is held to provide guidance to the student.
Master's Final Project
Class 3 Integration
Alfonso Bordallo

· Structure of the final paper
· Abstract
· Introduction (physiology, pathophysiology, therapeutic mechanisms)
· Discussion (clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, clinical application)
· Conclusions
· Searches conducted
· References

  • Evaluation: the third assignment is the final submission. It must expand on what has been developed in the previous submission and integrate it into a single document organized into the proposed sections.
Final Defense

Finally, the student must present and defend their work before the professors on the platform through videoconference. The professors may ask questions about the work.

The student must comply with the specific requirements and regulations of each edition, which will be provided to them. Completing this module requires a minimum level of dedication and effort. If the assignments required for each module are not submitted, the evaluation will be failed and the student will not be able to move on to the next module.

Track Master's in Therapeutic Neuroscience

Specialist Diploma in Neuroscience and Behavior
25 ECTS
Specialist Diploma in Therapeutic Neuroscience
25 ECTS
At the end of the last Expert module, the student can apply for the approved Expert degrees, or apply to the final module for the completion of the Master's Final Project for the Master's degree. (60 ECTS).
Master's Final Project
10 ECTS
SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2026
Access to the Master's degree is through the final module (Master's Final Project 10 ECTS). The student must apply for admission to this module upon completion of the Specialist Diplomas and pay the part corresponding to the final module (€).

Students who do not wish to do the Master's Final Project or who do not pass the 2 Specialist Diplomas do not have to make this payment and can apply for the approved Specialist Diplomas..

The degrees are exclusive; if you receive the Master's degree you cannot receive the Specialist Diplomas and vice versa.
Track Máster en Neurociencia Terapéutica
Specialist Diploma in Neuroscience and Behavior
25 ECTS
Specialist Diploma in Therapeutic Neuroscience
25 ECTS
At the end of the last Expert module, the student can apply for the approved Expert degrees, or apply to the final module for the completion of the Master's Final Project for the Master's degree. (60 ECTS).
Master's Final Project
10 ECTS
SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2026
Access to the Master's degree is through the final module (Master's Final Project 10 ECTS). The student must apply for admission to this module upon completion of the Specialist Diplomas and pay the part corresponding to the final module (€).

Students who do not wish to do the Master's Final Project or who do not pass the 2 Specialist Diplomas do not have to make this payment and can apply for the approved Specialist Diplomas..

The degrees are exclusive; if you receive the Master's degree you cannot receive the Specialist Diplomas and vice versa.

WORKBOOK

Workbook
426-PAGE, FULL-COLOR BOOK
A4 FORMAT
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2025
AUTHOR: ALFONSO BORDALLO
The student will receive a copy of the practical Workbook, written entirely by Alfonso Bordallo.
In this practical workbook we have developed hundreds of resources and key points that can be used as an orientation manual in consultation, aspects of motivational interviewing, evaluations and key points, essential reflections on different traits and transdiagnostic useful in disorders such as ACTs, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, etc.
Also as a book adapted to the course to work on personal growth individually by the student.

Objectives of the Master's Program

  • Understand the neurobiology of behavior.
  • Understand neuroanatomy at a structural and functional level.
  • Understand personality as a trait, process, and context.
  • Understand learning and motivated behavior.
  • Understand emotions, affective state mapping, and cortical integration.
  • Understand human thought and cognitive regulation.
  • Understand motivation and know how to apply it to people with chronic conditions.
  • Understand the reinforcement of procedures (habits, reinforcement, addictions).
  • Understand individual differences.
  • Understand stress, the determinants of self-esteem, and mood.
  • Understand behavioral regulation in different behaviors (at the operant, psychosocial level, etc.).
  • Promote self-knowledge, self-regulation, and goal coping.
  • Understand behavioral and affective disorders.
  • Understand the determinants of happiness and psychosocial well-being.
  • Understand neurocognitive and cognitive regulation.
  • Understand the neurobiology of the reward system.
  • Understand the neurobiology of anxiety.
  • Understand behavior functionally at the operant level.
  • Study mood disorders.
  • Study specific conditions such as pain, insomnia, addictions, etc.
  • Etc.

Access requirements

Master's diploma aimed at healthcare and social science professionals such as nutritionists, psychologists, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc.

Other professions such as social workers, sociologists, teaching (teachers), law enforcement and security forces, business and marketing, political and legal sciences, biology, and research. Professions in the fields of telecommunications, IT, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Other professions interested in understanding the brain and the behavior of individuals, groups, and societies.

Access to the final module (TFM 10 ECTS) to qualify for the Master's degree is free. Students who wish to qualify for the Master's degree must pay the tuition fees for the TFM credits upon completion of the Expert degrees.

Online Format

This program is offered in an asynchronous online format, which means that classes do not have a fixed schedule. However, the methodology of ICNS's asynchronous online programs is designed to be followed in a structured and continuous manner. One class is released every two weeks, and there are deadlines for completing the assessments, requiring students to study consistently over time. Students have full access to the virtual classroom at all times, where they can also contact professors directly. ICNS's asynchronous online training is therefore delivered in a continuous format, which - based on our experience - leads to better learning outcomes and overall engagement compared to other approaches.

  • The asynchronous online program follows a continuous learning methodology.
  • All training is carried out through the virtual classroom, combining video lectures with reading the coursebook.
  • Each class lasts 3-4 hours, and a new topic with its corresponding classes is released every two weeks.
  • Each class includes a multiple-choice test, which must generally be completed within 30 days of the release of that topic.
  • Students can ask the professors any questions through the virtual platform. A dedicated discussion thread is opened for each class topic.

University-Specific Master's Degree

University-Specific Masters Degree

Validity: both permanent training master's degrees and regulated master's degrees are eligible for scoring in public administration competitive exams and selection processes. The scoring of the training depends on the specific rules of each public process or employment pool.

Proprietary master's degrees have been renamed as permanent training master's degrees following the implementation of Royal Decree 822/2021.

Permanent training master's degrees and master's degrees leading to a PhD have different purposes, and both have advantages and disadvantages. The ICNS-UCAM permanent training master's degrees have 60-90 ECTS credits, are issued by universities, and are eligible for scoring. Their main advantage is having more flexible regulations, which allow the design of curricula more oriented toward clinical practice, a more dynamic methodology, a greater variety of topics covered, and a design more focused on student needs. Permanent training master's degrees allow students to be trained in competencies aimed at clinical practice that are often not sufficiently addressed in regulated education.

Thanks to this, there is a greater variety of permanent training degrees that make it possible to offer more specific and comprehensive curricula. Master's degrees leading to a PhD have more structured programs, which limits flexibility in their design. For this reason, universities offer both types of programs to address different needs - whether the goal is to pursue a doctoral and research program in a specific area, or to expand professional competencies, in our case more oriented toward clinical practice.

Therefore, no master's degree is intrinsically better than another; rather, the choice depends on the competencies the student needs, the quality of the institution offering the program, the methodology, the curriculum, the level of updating, the clinical orientation of the subjects, the faculty, and the quality-price ratio.

Student reviews

If I had to sum up in a few words what it has been for me, it would be "the master's of life".
I liked Coaching so much that when they proposed repeating it to make it a Master's, I didn't hesitate for a moment.
Alfonso is simply wonderful. The Master's takes off the blindfold, opens your mind, and fills your heart (and it works your prefrontal cortex really well xD).
You have to work hard; it's not an easy master's. You have to study and read a lot, but the effort you have to make is proportional to the effort they make in giving high-quality tools. They do provide evidence—unlike many courses out there that are biased to the hilt. The classes are very enjoyable (my life will no longer make sense without Sundays xD) and it will definitely be worth doing.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) I have quite a few trainings under my belt, and this has been by far the most enriching at the professional and personal levels.
I will miss you all; you are an awesome team at ICNS.
Thank you for the master's, for teaching me so much! Studying sets you free!!
María Fraile Guerra, Pharmacist and Nutritionist
This Master's is super complete in offering applied theory. Other courses I took previously only stayed on the theoretical part, leaving you halfway as a professional. ICNS has given me the opportunity to improve my self-concept and self-esteem in the workplace. I feel competent and with more tools to help people. I am very happy to have decided to train with this Master's (and this is not the typical flattery to look good; I say it from the heart).
Elisabet Aguiló Thió, Degree in Psychology
The best training I have ever taken; neither university nor any other master's or specialization has given me so much knowledge, expanded and changed my perspective and vision on many realities.
It is not a typical theoretical or distance course; there is a strong focus on personal and professional growth, with totally truthful and updated information.
In addition, in the forum there is constant interaction between classmates and the teacher, who always clarifies all doubts and expands on what was covered in class with the latest studies on the topics and very useful additional material to the book.
Several very practical assignments are done that encourage deep reflection and analysis of the topics covered. I would not change a thing; it has completely exceeded my expectations. The academic level and knowledge are far above average; it has been a before and after in my personal and professional life. I could not be more grateful.
Yaiza Padrón Antón, Psychologist
I think it is the BEST Master's I have done in all my training. Super interesting syllabus. The classes are very well taught by the teacher. Every time I have class, I learn 50,000 new interesting things. The organization in general is excellent, and the communication when there are problems or doubts is outstanding in terms of speed. It has not disappointed me, and it is the best investment I could have made. The assignments are very appropriate, the deadlines, the forum... the website, the classroom is very useful and full of resources.
Vanessa Belmonte Rueda, Psychologist with a Master's in General Health Psychology, Postgraduate in Psycho-oncology, and Master's in Teacher Training
When I talk about this Master's, I call it "the Master's of life." I truly believe it is not just a plain and simple training to end up becoming a coach, but much more than that. It is a learning process that requires personal work in order to apply it later to your professional life. It is a full inner journey in which you must remain open to every possibility, be willing to explore and learn a lot about yourself, so you can make the most of every stage of this experience and later transmit it to others. I could not feel luckier about the choice I made when I enrolled.
Laura Pradal Bellón
This course has helped me dismantle some of my beliefs, better understand my surroundings and myself, and make better decisions that impact my personal and professional life.
It is impossible to convey in a few words what I have learned, but I believe it will be a reference course for me for many years, to revisit from time to time, not only to refresh concepts, ideas, and resources, but to reconnect with realities that are ignored and relegated to oblivion in our daily lives and that are worth keeping in mind to live a little more in line with my values, being less self-centered, less likely to be deceived, and once again inspired by an example of courage and honesty that is currently little recognized and rare.

My thanks to all the teachers, especially to Alfonso Bordallo, for his patience, generosity, and enthusiasm in teaching the course as if it were the first time :)
Marina Montaraz Giménez
I knew it was good when I signed up, but it truly changes your perspective, opens your mind, and shows you how much you still have to learn and how wrong you were about many health and psychology topics. You learn a lot both for personal use and to help others with the knowledge obtained. 10/10 and I will continue taking courses with ICNS because it is a leading company. Also, the platform is very well designed, and everything runs smoothly.
Emilio José Marín Postigo, Firefighter/CCAFyD
One of the best courses I have ever taken. You learn a lot of information about people's behavior, and it makes you reflect to the point that it affects you personally and helps you know yourself better.
I would also like to highlight Alfonso’s work—very professional and a great teacher—who makes you reflect on many aspects of life and conveys it very well.
This Master's offers very complete learning.
Maria Jose León Vergara, Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
I thought the course was a 10!
I could say it is the best training I have done so far.
In addition to showing enormous knowledge about the topics they cover, they know how to link it so that it is useful in real life, both personally and professionally. Many courses stay theoretical, going through slides in a boring way, repeating the same concepts. ICNS is nothing like that. Each class, in addition to teaching you knowledge, teaches you something rarely taught: how to think.
Another very important point is that they are totally honest in their opinions, tell the truth, and have no conflicts of interest. This is very hard to find today and one of the reasons why it is worth choosing them.
If you are interested, even in just some of the topics covered, I would not hesitate to take the training, as I doubt there is any other like it, and it will undoubtedly mark a before and after, both personally and professionally.
Eva Chavero Estelrich, Doctor
When I enrolled, I thought the syllabus looked great and expected to learn what was listed in it. Now that I’ve finished, although I have learned a lot and will continue to do so when I can review the provided information (which is a lot and of very high quality), I can say that the “least important” part is the syllabus. This training has changed me as a person, in ways I never would have imagined when I decided to take it.
It far exceeded all my expectations. Totally recommended if you have an intellectual curiosity about the proposed topics and want to open your mind to other perspectives.
Maria Eugenia Martínez Pelaez, Degree in Biology, PhD
I consider myself fortunate to be an ICNS student.
In my opinion, it is an institute that stands out for its independence, critical and scientific thinking, and strong commitment to ethical and social values. I highlight their courage in daring to share the knowledge that formal education, in general, denies and hides from us despite the evidence. The ICNS team has taken a step forward and marked a before and after in the transmission of knowledge. ICNS students learn to reflect and create knowledge, not just to repeat and memorize syllabuses. Last year, I took the Obesity course; now I am enrolled in the Coaching course, and I can assure you my life has changed, as I now have many tools that help me understand my life and that of other human beings. I find myself positioned in the world in a more conscious, understanding, accepting, and conciliatory way. I also feel prepared to make many valuable contributions to society through my work and the new knowledge I have gained thanks to my active role as an ICNS student.

I want to highlight the high academic and personal quality of the instructors.
Pilar Hernández Cubero, Nurse
Adriana San Nicolas Medina
The course not only gives you tools for real-life application, but it also changes your way of seeing things, brings out your most critical thinking, and helps you see the world through a different lens. I am absolutely delighted with this course, not only because of the content but also because of the way the instructors convey everything they know. The professors always answer questions quickly and are always open to all kinds of opinions. I really like that because they share their opinions, take a stand, and are transparent and unfiltered, especially Alfonso Bordallo. He invites us to turn things around and question many things. This course has opened my mind both as a professional and as a person. I will definitely take another one!
María del Carmen Blanco Gandía, Degree in Psychology, Official Master's in Drug Addiction Research
This is the best training I have ever received! In addition to the outstanding level of the instructors (I especially like that they foster critical thinking and encourage us to doubt everything), I think the course is tremendously useful because it offers tools you can apply across domains, not only in the health field. Understanding how the brain works is key to understanding human behavior, and from there, we can apply it to all areas of life… because everything is related and connected. The feeling of connecting the dots is very satisfying. Taking this course is like completing a life puzzle, and in the end, everything fits.
Leonor Margets, Professional poker player
I think it is a very complete course, where we go from the cellular level of the brain to the foundations of our behaviors. We cover topics in depth that I thought no institution I knew would address, and we do so thoroughly, adding details and presenting solid scientific evidence when necessary. At the start of the course, Alfonso Bordallo told us that we were going to change the way we see ourselves and others, starting with the difficult habit of not judging. In my case, that has been true; I am getting to know myself better thanks to this course, and I am learning a lot both personally and academically, with many contexts and tools applicable at a professional level. I am very happy; the course is long and requires work and rereading certain topics, but I think it brings great richness and value.
Diego Jimenez Gonzalez, Dietitian, Degree in Pharmacy
Inda Climent Torrecillas
This training never ceases to amaze me. I have taken many courses in my life, a university degree, etc., and in none of them did I learn to think and reason as much as in these classes. Not only to try to help others, but also, the enormous and pleasant surprise is how this course has helped me in my own life and truly marked a before and after in how I manage to understand people, judge less, and even understand myself better. I am enormously grateful to you.
Gabriela Beatriz Bravo, Degree in Biotechnology
Hello, the course is wonderful. I learn something new with each chapter, and even better, I am starting to connect and see the relationship between areas I thought were so distant and different, such as nutrition, psychology, sexuality, and business. It has been a great relief to see that the difficulties in these areas stem from the same foundations and can be addressed through similar patterns.
Thanks to this course, I have started making very important decisions in my own life, which has radically improved since I started. That was my main goal when I enrolled, so the course has met and exceeded my expectations.
Adrián Martín García
Maria Perez Jover
This training is a constant learning experience about the human being and our behavior. Our behavior is broken down in detail. It also helps you want to have an open mind about all the established dogmas at the health, social... level, making you rethink who you are and what you want to achieve in your life, without self-deception. As Alfonso says in class: this should be taught in school.
Ignacio Oriol Freixa, Physiotherapist
In my case, the decision to take this course was more personal than work-related. I needed to know the “whys” behind the illnesses I thought were only related to nutrition and that, thanks to ICNS, I have learned were just the tip of the iceberg.
By applying everything I learned, I have been able to modulate my behavior (at work, personally, socially, etc.), to reinforce myself; when I fall, I don’t stay there—now I get up (I know how to identify what I have too much of and what I’m missing to keep surviving in this world). It has helped me lower my level of fighting against everything, partly because I have learned something that I believe has been the most important: not to judge myself and not to judge others, which has freed me from a lot of guilt and criticism.
I am proud of myself, of what I know, how I apply it (not only to myself), and how I explain it :)
Thank you, Mireia, for answering the phone that day, and thank you, Alfonso, for making me reflect in the comments on my grades. If you notice, I have already applied one of them, which was “THANK THOSE WHO CARE FOR YOU AND DO THINGS FOR YOU.”
Mayte Ceacero Vargas, Public sector employee
I started the master’s in neuroscience for personal motivation; I had been feeling lost for some time and wanted to take a “sabbatical” to experiment and get to know myself. The master’s has allowed me not only to know myself on a personal level (and there’s still more to come) but also to understand my environment, see things from different perspectives, and adopt an integrative vision, the result of blending different disciplines such as psychology, biology, sociology, and philosophy.
I must say it’s not a master’s that makes you feel comfortable at all times—rather, it stirs you up wherever you’re sitting while reading the syllabus or watching Alfonso’s classes. No one said that what feels pleasant and good is necessarily beneficial in the long term.
They say that to mature you need to live different experiences, and it’s amazing how this master’s lets you travel to different places in your mind (and beyond) and is indeed a personal journey that, for those who enjoy it, will be a true adventure.
One of the aspects I liked most was having the physical support of two books and a workbook. This always allows you to expand and read more carefully everything covered during the class.
In short, I attended this master’s for therapeutic reasons and ended up finding much more than I was looking for.

Many thanks to Alfonso and to the whole team behind the scenes.
It’s been a pleasure, and I’m sure I’ll return to ICNS at some point. For now, I’ll take some time to digest and explore on my own everything covered in the course—in one year my neuroplasticity hasn’t caught up with the speed of the master’s haha. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that sensation of learning—and not just knowledge!
Patricia Cobo Vega
The Master's in Therapeutic Neuroscience has exceeded all my expectations. I wanted to complete my training by acquiring more knowledge about the brain and human behavior, but the course goes much further and covers a great diversity of topics.
What I liked most is the teaching system—completely different from traditional classes we are used to. Here, the syllabus is taught so that you reason and think for yourself, making it much more engaging. It is designed to ensure that we absorb and understand everything being explained.
The organization and coordination of the course is excellent, with a team fully committed to making everything run smoothly.
I recommend the Master's regardless of your profession, as it is a tool for self-knowledge, applicable to everyone around you, and very useful for life.
Miriam Campuzano , Personnel Selection
It is practically impossible that if you dedicate time to this Master's it will not become a before-and-after moment in your life, a significant event. With Alfonso, you establish a love-hate relationship—on some topics he will confront your beliefs and you will want to kill him, but after questioning yourself and studying, you will appreciate him. This is not a typical Master's that stays on the surface with outdated bibliography; on the contrary, topics are addressed in depth and with a broad perspective that, in my experience, no one tells you about, much less in such an honest way. Alfonso is very approachable in resolving any questions in class and always open to friendly debate on all topics in the forum threads. It is nothing like any other training in psychology, nutrition, or neuroscience. In the activities, you review your life in all aspects—your past, your environment, and your patients—which I insist is practically impossible not to enrich you as a person. Its price is not even close to what it will infinitely give you. As a requirement, I would only mention the need to come in with a very open mind to whatever you encounter and time to dedicate to it. In my experience, after the Master's you stop seeing life the way you did before, and as a bonus, you take away a much more critical mindset for the rest of your life. You will stop swallowing the romantic speeches that surround us today and will have a hunger to know situations in their historical context, as they are truly understood.

In short, doubting whether to enroll in this Master's is like doubting whether to live knowing the world we live in or not. If I had to choose between all my previous education or this Master's, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. This Master's.
Jennifer Quirant, Nutritionist
Without a doubt, it has been one of the best experiences of my life. I am not only speaking at the academic level but also about how it has changed my view of my environment. I now understand much better how the world and the people around me work. I feel capable of making better decisions and am more aware of why I do the things I do and for what purpose.
At the academic level, I have no doubt it has been the best action I have taken. I have been a student in another master's—the one in clinical nutrition and endocrinology—and although I loved it and have a very good opinion of that master's, the experience of the Therapeutic Neuroscience Master's has been unforgettable.
I recommend it 100%. And if I can give one suggestion, it is that people who want to enter this Master's should not go with the intention of getting a title, but to learn and internalize everything Alfonso says.
Diego Sorando, Dietitian-Nutritionist
This master's is the training I was expecting when I began studying psychology. It not only provides updated and comprehensive theoretical and practical knowledge but also allows you to embark on a constant learning journey about yourself, the world, and life, being able to apply the knowledge not only professionally but also personally.
Personally, it has helped me deconstruct ideas and beliefs on many topics, build new thoughts, question things, reflect and make better decisions, and think more critically. It has allowed me to better understand my environment and also myself, and above all to set aside what is not important, putting what is relevant front and center.
Regarding the methodology, it is nothing like other types of distance learning: the classes are dynamic; there is a forum where you can interact both to resolve doubts and to debate with classmates. The assignments you have to do during the course require deep reflection, allowing better assimilation of the theoretical concepts presented during the classes.
It has been an incredible experience that has greatly changed me, and I recommend it to anyone regardless of their profession. All my gratitude to Alfonso and ICNS.
Ainhoa Pérez Escobedo, Psychology
For me, it is the best training I have invested in. When I signed up, it was simply out of interest in psychology and neuroscience, but I have gotten much more than that. It is a very comprehensive master's in which not only the psychology of people is explained, but also their context, the society we live in, politics, philosophy... which makes certain aspects much easier to understand—things that would fall short with simple explanations about neurotransmitters.

During the course of the master's, many of my beliefs have changed and my mind has opened up, developing a more critical view of many aspects of life. Even if sometimes the syllabus clashes with your point of view, as the topics progress everything starts to make sense.

It should be noted that this is a master's where you have to submit assignments, take tests, and sometimes the readings are extensive, but this is the way I have truly learned and integrated the information, in addition to the live classes. In the end, the effort is worth it, and they give you plenty of time to do everything.

I also want to highlight and thank Alfonso, who teaches the classes and wrote the lecture notes (pure gold). You can feel his enthusiasm, patience, curiosity, and his purpose of helping you develop critical thinking about all aspects of life. He makes you want to learn more and expand everything studied in class.

This course has been a before and after for me.
Noelia Simón
I have doubts whether the opinion of a 61-year-old person can help... but just in case, here it goes. Embarking on a master's in Therapeutic Neuroscience at that age—and the professional profitability one might obtain is obviously negative. But having your mind turned "inside out like a sock" is priceless. It's not just what you learn (which also matters) but how and with whom you learn it. I would sum up everything learned with the word perspective: seeing and feeling life from another point of view—and it is indeed possible. You start learning from minute zero and keep learning even after the last class. Totally recommended. Saying that the pity is not having crossed paths with Alfonso thirty years earlier (with today's Alfonso, of course) is because he is one of those people you want to meet "in the flesh" and, of course, talk with. The syllabus does not disappoint in any chapter—each more interesting than the last. The learnings I obtained may not have a "professional outlet" for me, but I assure you that the personal growth and the experience gained are impressive. A million thanks!!
Jesús García Pajuelo
Without a doubt, it is the best training I have ever done; I have completed many courses, but none have led to the exponential growth made possible by the knowledge acquired with Alfonso, both personally and professionally. It is a master's that not only addresses the aspects you expect but also offers a very broad syllabus that helps you better understand yourself, others, and the world around us. After completing it, I understood and answered many questions that had always been in my head; this translated into greater self-confidence, being able to place things in a more realistic perspective, and knowing the importance of studying, reflecting, and questioning everything.

I could not be more grateful for life, for everything I learned and experienced; it could not have been more enriching.
Yaiza Padrón Antón, Psychologist
All the training I have taken at ICNS has an extremely high level. The neuroscience Master's, in particular, perfectly fills the gap left by the scarce training in current health studies on these topics. It allows you to see the person more holistically and individually, outside of protocols and clinical guidelines that save effort at the expense of poorer approaches. It goes straight to the point, with a huge amount of data that makes you see the reality of healthcare in Spain and break many myths.

On a personal level, it allows you to know yourself internally in many aspects you would never have explored on your own, to monitor your life, and to change aspects that don’t bring you closer to your goals, focusing effort on actions you can take and leaving victimhood behind.

Drugs, sex, criminology… are taboo topics in universities, but also subjects like public health, obesity, or psychopathology hide even more conflicts. And nowhere will they tell you about them like here.

A great opportunity for any healthcare professional who wants to improve their relationship with patients, understand them better, and provide real solutions. Also for those who want personal development and to improve day by day—although the first 3 or 4 topics may feel a bit uphill without prior knowledge, once assimilated, the rest of the Master's is very enjoyable.
Pablo Álvarez González, Physiotherapist
The value of this training is hard to describe in a few lines. I think everyone should do this master’s—whether for personal growth and self-improvement, or as a complement to professional life. It gives you such a wealth of tools that, if you take advantage of them and work on them, your worldview, your metacognition, your way of thinking will not be the same after completing it. You will never be the same, nor will you evaluate and relate to others from the narrow perspective we often do. In my long search in life, I have explored many places, looking for things to help me grow and improve, to know myself more deeply, but I don’t think anything specific has ever given me, or resonated with me, so deeply while also making me question so much about ourselves and our dynamics as humans. The content is incredible—lots of up-to-date evidence and data Alfonso has gathered from various fields of study. As for Alfonso, I don’t have the exact words to describe him as a teacher—intellectually brilliant, restless, and rebellious. Simply put, whoever wants to nourish themselves with his knowledge and wisdom should just let themselves be guided. Having him as my teacher is something I will always thank life for.
Alejandra Noreña, Bacteriologist and bioanalyst. Technician in radiological protection.
For me, the master’s has been a personal and professional transformation, a paradigm shift, and an incredibly wonderful accumulation of knowledge. Each class and each topic enriched you so much—the syllabus is so good that I can only recommend it so everyone can have the privilege of having Alfonso Bordallo as a teacher. I have studied many programs (including university) but none like this master’s, which I would definitely repeat. The price is extremely low for the value it gives you. Thank you, Alfonso, for so much, and to the institute for its great professionalism.
Maria Luisa Giron Mota
Studying the Master’s in Neuroscience has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my professional training and for my life. All the content is very meaningful and enriching, and the topics are developed from the basics so that you can understand the other modules, as one topic leads to another—everything is connected. The classes are live, and you will then have access to a forum where you can ask more questions to the professor or interact with other classmates through comments.
Another point I love is that ICNS sends the study material to your home, no matter where in the world you live, and the staff is always attentive in resolving your issues, answering doubts, or responding to messages you send via Instagram, WhatsApp, or email—they are very kind.
I feel happy and grateful to be part of the student community. Since I learned about ICNS, one of my goals was to study this master’s, and today I finally achieved it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Yomara Quispe Cuayla, Psychologist
This master’s is unlike any other regulated study: it addresses an integral perspective of different topics, emphasizing their interconnectedness and providing an approach in which you understand that everything is connected; that behind a more immediate symptom there is always a more distant cause.
It forces you to think, and above all, to rethink yourself, on a personal level. It makes you connect with yourself and reconsider and deconstruct many of the things you had built.
In short, it’s a whole learning journey.
I don’t think there’s any other training like it.
LP, Dietitian
I have completed the Master’s in Therapeutic Neuroscience and it’s without a doubt the best training I’ve ever received!!! I learned more from this master’s than in all my years of university.
My experience at ICNS has been very positive and above all enriching. The materials are top-notch, the classes with Alfonso have been enjoyable, engaging, and above all a source of wisdom. Regarding the platform, I must point out that it is very intuitive and easy to use.
And last but not least, I would like to thank the human team that is part of ICNS, because they are without a doubt the ones who make all this work perfectly.
Thanks again for giving me the opportunity to grow as a person and as a professional. I will study with ICNS again and recommend it 100%.
Elena Escobedo López, Psychologist
I had never come across a master’s program whose students repeated it even after passing the first time. That alone says everything. And, once I finished, I perfectly understood why they wanted to do it again.

It’s like a book you don’t want to finish. A journey where the destination doesn’t matter much; it’s an end in itself. But you must want to walk that path and know there’s no turning back. Not everyone wants to, or is at a point in life where they feel like reflecting deeply. There are uncomfortable moments: a certain innocence is lost, there’s a bittersweet taste when you realize the kings are the parents. But it’s worth it—at least for me. You learn to detach from certain situations, thoughts, and dichotomies. You learn to take yourself less seriously. You learn to adopt an observer’s perspective and never see the world the same way again.

You also gain colleagues you can talk to about topics that are hard to bring up in other contexts.

However, I don’t think you’d enjoy it as much if it’s just a formality to get a diploma to look good on your resume or to hang on the wall (although I won’t deny that having a master’s in Neuroscience sounds good :)).

I don’t think your profession or background matters much. It’s true that some concepts at the beginning might be harder without a base in biology and physiology. But if you really want to learn how your brain works and the brains of those around you, and have the capacity to reflect, read, and understand deep texts, from the very first classes you will take away lessons applicable to life in general—whether you’re a psychologist, nutritionist, nurse, truck driver, shopkeeper, hairdresser, teacher, trainer, dog educator, or cook.

It has been one of the best investments of time, energy, and money in my life (nothing to envy to those who invested in crypto in 2010—well, maybe just a little ;)).
Carla S., Dietitian-Nutritionist
This master’s has exceeded my expectations; the syllabus is super complete along with the classes and the forum… Everything has provided me with knowledge rich in detail, while also offering the foundation to build a global and interconnected perspective, to better and more deeply understand people, the environment/world, and oneself.
It has also allowed me to grow in my ability to handle, understand, and relate information from different topics, as well as to make decisions and make changes toward greater well-being and development in my life, both personally and professionally.
In short, I find it extremely enriching and useful. I recommend it 100%.
Sara, Primary school teacher, physical education, and university professor
I found this Master's WONDERFUL, in all caps.

At first, I enrolled because I thought it would help me better understand, know, and treat my patients in consultations, with the goal of improving the services I offer. But I must say that it not only helped me with that, it was therapy first for myself and then applicable to others. Besides opening your eyes in many aspects of daily life, it helps you reflect on yourself, get to know yourself, and be more critical of what surrounds us.

Totally recommended, but if you decide to join, I advise you to start with a (very) open mind and a strong desire to learn and work throughout the course.
Cristina García, Dietitian-Nutritionist
Taking the neuroscience Master's at ICNS has been a challenge as it was my first online course. The truth is that the dynamic is compatible with personal life, and you acquire knowledge in a dynamic way.
The teacher is amazing, providing an alternative vision to the foundations we have established: arguing, respecting contrary opinions, and transmitting his extensive knowledge in a close way. His level of training is high, and he knows how to share his wisdom with his students. Both he and his team exceed the expectations I had for the Master's.
The chosen subject matter is very interesting and practical.
Vanessa A.
This Master's has been a before and after for me, both personally and professionally. Being able to understand how people's minds work and receiving such a comprehensive vision of human nature is a gift that inevitably makes you more empathetic, coherent, and compassionate with others. This has repercussions on your personal life and in your relationship with clients, especially if you work in a health-related profession.
The amount of knowledge and Alfonso’s critical vision can be overwhelming at times, always in a good way.

I believe this Master's is not for everyone. It is important to have an open mind and be willing to accept that you have been wrong many times in your life to be able to make the most of it. Or perhaps that degree of open-mindedness is provided by the Master's itself.

In any case, I dare say it is the best training I have ever taken.

I will always be grateful.
Tania, Family Dietitian and Children's Mindfulness Instructor
This Master's is not just any Master's. It is the best.
I had been wanting to take a course on neuroscience for some time, but I never decided. When the Therapeutic Neuroscience Master's program from ICNS appeared before my eyes, I fell in love with its content. There wasn’t a single detail I disliked.
It is absolutely true that from the first classes you feel capable of applying the syllabus reflections to real life, so the knowledge acquired about the world becomes personal development—general culture that places you in a privileged position, for your own benefit and through the wisdom masterfully transmitted by the exceptional teacher Alfonso Bordallo.
The content taught is the closest to truth and authenticity I have ever found, and I dare say the motivation I feel with this Master's is unmatched in all my years as a student. Doing this Master's has undoubtedly been one of the best decisions of my life. I knew I had to do it because its program captivated me from the start, but the best part is that its orientation perfectly resonates with my vision of life and the world; so I am enjoying it to the fullest. And, in addition to what you learn, you laugh a lot in class. What more could you ask for?
Of course, you have to work, but the deadlines are quite reasonable, and the activities are attractive and practical.
Impeccable too is the support received from the student assistance staff.
Psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and philosophy—four disciplines together that have always attracted and fascinated me. Three raw ingredients cooked by the best chef every two Sundays result in exquisite dishes that satisfy all palates. The notes are pure gold, a treasure to always keep at hand. I have applied the Master's teachings with my students and in my private life.
What was once a goal is now making me very happy. I recommend this Master's to anyone who wants to see the world from a privileged position and enjoy a unique existential learning experience.
Mónica Oncala Gil, Secondary School Teacher and Journalist
Every day I become more convinced that taking this Master's was the best decision I have ever made. It radically changed the way I see life. I had never learned so much about so many different topics before!
I feel freer, with all the knowledge I now feel I have.

Now I see people with more empathy and less judgment. And most importantly, it completely changed the way I perceive myself. I feel that much of what caused anxiety (and many other related issues) is gone.
Sofía Arias
This Master's is an incredible experience both for expanding knowledge and for personal growth. It even changes the way you see the world and science. It is also perfect for developing critical thinking about reality.
Línea González
I think that, as happened to me, many people may have joined the Master's to train for their profession and found something so profound for life that it changes you completely. I recommend it to anyone with an open and curious mind—the best advances in life come from having turned all preconceived ideas upside down.
Gracia, Nutritionist
I love the curriculum, the topics to be covered, and the methodology and perspective with which they are addressed, fostering awareness and critical judgment. The evaluation is demanding, which is a strength.
Elena Vela Martínez, Primary Education Teacher
A master's for life, it teaches you how you function mentally, breaks your frameworks, and gives you a much-needed dose of reality nowadays. Totally recommended if you are willing to understand how your mental frameworks work and act accordingly because it will change the way you think and help you understand how you function mentally while learning things that should be taught in school.
Puri Domenech
The course has very extensive and interesting content and has excellent instructors and professionals. It is on par with the best master’s programs, with the difference that here they really make you think—and think a lot.
Sara Donoso Sánchez, Nutritionist
On a personal level, the course content and speakers have changed important structures in me. The constant is the confrontation of deeply ingrained ideas and paradigms; it has also challenged me to consciously carry out my own attitudes and habits. Regarding others, I never thought I could understand those around me so well, starting from their motivations, reinforcements, and incentives. Understanding the stress system helped me solve a relationship problem I had been carrying for some time.
I hope there will soon be a Coaching II!!!!!
Lourdes Medina Valdes, Degree
Without a doubt, this is the best course I have ever taken in my life. Both on a personal and professional level, everyone should be able to take it. I feel very fortunate to have found ICNS.
Marta Mato Hereu, Nutritionist
I started with expectations that were not only met but greatly exceeded. The course content and the professors teaching the classes could not be better, and I loved that. It’s a course everyone should take, as it explains our behavior and gives us tools to change it.
My goal was to better understand health in order to help people, and this course will also (and even more so) help us reflect on ourselves so we can then help others. “One must first learn what they want to teach,” and in this course, I assure you that you will.
It’s a course no one tells you to study; your own curiosity will take you further—at least it did for me. I thank all the ICNS professors, especially Alfonso, for giving me the desire to keep learning, to question things, and to keep my curiosity alive.
I also want to stress that IT’S NOT JUST FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS—in fact, I “am” an early childhood educator, and it has helped me immensely. I would fight to bring these kinds of courses and content to more places and empower citizens with the resources WE ALREADY HAVE. Together, we can change things. Let’s educate ourselves with ICNS or professionals of their caliber who care about education without conflicts of interest, and let’s be the change we want to see!
Unai Arregui
This Master's gives you a comprehensive vision of the human being, going through its different spheres: neurophysiology, personality, learning, addictions... without ever losing sight of the fact that we are a whole, greater than the sum of the parts.
You learn to think, to have criteria, to be a better person by judging yourself and others less. This is why it is of great importance for healthcare personnel. This way, you can understand the person asking you for help and give them the best tools.
The Master's is much more than anyone could imagine. Excellent attention from the teaching staff and all the personnel to help you learn. I will spend years integrating the information.
Ana Núñez Veiga, Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
This Master's is proving to be incredibly interesting; I am learning to see the world, to understand others and myself from perspectives I could not have imagined before starting. I think signing up has been one of the best decisions of my life. If you decide to join, keep in mind that likely nothing will be the same again. Sometimes I have thought it is like having taken that capsule from The Matrix (I can't remember if it was the blue one or the red one...), but the world that had been invisible until now is the inner one. At the same time that you learn about yourself, you will learn about others, and this will be very useful for working to help other people.
Alba Crespo, Dietitian-Nutritionist
Practical Exercises with ICNS Nutrition Software
Practical Exercises with ICNS Nutrition Software

Assessment criteria

The student must comply with the academic regulations of each program, tests and indications of the professors, etc.

  • Specialist Diploma in Neuroscience and Behavior: accounting for 25 ECTS on the final grade
    ·Multiple-choice exams for each module and written assignments.
    ·Maximum number of failures: 1
  • Specialist Diploma in Therapeutic Neuroscience: accounting for 25 ECTS on the final grade
    ·Multiple-choice exams for each module and written assignments.
    ·Maximum number of failures: 1
  • Master's Final Project: accounting for 10 ECTS on the final grade

If you do not take an exam, it will count as a 0. The average grade must be at least a 5 to pass.
Do you have any questions? You can write us here:

Contact Form

Do you have any questions? You can write us here:

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  +34 699 52 61 33
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