What is Neuroscience?

Neuroscience, also known as Neural Science, is the study of how the nervous system
develops, its structure, and what it does.
Neuroscientists focus on the brain and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions.
Not only is neuroscience concerned with the normal functioning of the nervous system,
but also what happens to the nervous system when people have neurological,
psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Neuroscience is often referred to in the plural, as neurosciences.
Neuroscience has traditionally been classed as a subdivision of biology. These days, it is
an interdisciplinary science which liaises closely with other disciplines, such as
mathematics, linguistics, engineering, computer science, chemistry, philosophy,
psychology, and medicine.
Many researchers say that neuroscience means the same as neurobiology. However,
neurobiology looks at the biology of the nervous system, while neuroscience refers to
anything to do with the nervous system.
Neuroscientists are involved in a much wider scope of fields today than before. They
study the cellular, functional, evolutionary, computational, molecular, cellular and
medical aspects of the nervous system.

The major branches of modern neuroscience

The following branches of neuroscience, based on research areas and subjects of study
can be broadly categorized in the following disciplines (neuroscientists usually cover
several branches at the same time):
Affective neuroscience – in most cases, research is carried out on laboratory animals
and looks at how neurons behave in relation to emotions.
Behavioral neuroscience – the study of the biological bases of behavior. Looking at
how the brain affects behavior.
Cellular neuroscience – the study of neurons, including their form and physiological
properties at cellular level.
Clinical neuroscience – looks at the disorders of the nervous system, while
psychiatry, for example, looks at the disorders of the mind.
Cognitive neuroscience – the study of higher cognitive functions that exist in
humans, and their underlying neural bases. Cognitive neuroscience draws from
linguistics, neuroscience, psychology and cognitive science. Cognitive neuroscientists
can take two broad directions; behavioral/experimental or computational/modeling, the
aim being to understand the nature of cognition from a neural point of view.
Computational neuroscience – attempting to understand how brains compute, using
computers to simulate and model brain functions, and applying techniques from
mathematics, physics and other computational fields to study brain function.
Cultural neuroscience – looks at how beliefs, practices and cultural values are
shaped by and shape the brain, minds and genes over different periods.
Developmental neuroscience – looks at how the nervous system develops on a
cellular basis; what underlying mechanisms exist in neural development.
Molecular neuroscience – the study of the role of individual molecules in the nervous
system.
Neuroengineering – using engineering techniques to better understand, replace,
repair, or improve neural systems.
Neuroimaging – a branch of medical imaging that concentrates on the brain.
Neuroimaging is used to diagnose disease and assess the health of the brain. It can
also be useful in the study of the brain, how it works, and how different activities affect
the brain.
Neuroinformatics – integrates data across all areas of neuroscience, to help
understand the brain and treat diseases. Neuroinformatics involves acquiring data,
sharing, publishing and storing information, analysis, modeling, and simulation.
Neurolinguistics – studying what neural mechanisms in the brain control the
acquisition, comprehension and utterance of language.
Neurophysiology– looks at the relationship of the brain and its functions, and the
sum of the body’s parts and how they interrelate. The study of how the nervous system
functions, typically using physiological techniques, such as stimulation with electrodes,
light-sensitive channels, or ion- or voltage-sensitive dyes.
Paleoneurology – the study of the brain using fossils.
Social neuroscience – this is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding how
biological systems implement social processes and behavior. Social neuroscience
gathers biological concepts and methods to inform and refine theories of social
behavior. It uses social and behavioral concepts and data to refine neural organization
and function theories.
Systems neuroscience – follows the pathways of data flow within the CNS (central
nervous system) and tries to define the kinds of processing going on there. It uses that
information to explain behavioral functions.
Neuroscience affects many, if not all, human functions, but it also contributes to a
better understanding of a wide range of common conditions.
These include:
 Down syndrome
 autistic spectrum disorders (ASD)
 ADHD
 addiction
 schizophrenia
 Parkinson’s disease
 brain tumors
 epilepsy
 the effects of stroke, for example, language loss
 immune system disorders, such as multiple sclerosis

A greater understanding of neurological factors can help in developing medications and

other strategies to treat and prevent these and many other health issues.
Relevance of Neuroscience in Occupation Therapy
 An education in neuroscience can provide students with an excellent
background for a career as an occupational therapist.
 An occupational therapist with a neuro specialism has the skills to
understand the challenges faced by those with neurological impairments and
have the unique skills of creating individualized solutions for your clients.
 The nervous system not only works to produce thoughts, emotions, and
behavior, but also controls important body functions, like breathing.
Studying the nervous system advances understanding of our basic biology and
body function.
 Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) can encompass a diverse range of
neurological symptoms including limb weakness, paralysis, seizures,
walking difficulties, spasms, twitching, sensory issues and more.

 Neuroscience Core Concepts

 The brain is the body's most complex organ.
 Neurons communicate using both electrical and chemical signals.
 Genetically determined circuits are the foundation of the nervous system.
 Life experiences change the nervous system.
Can neuroscience change human behavior?
 Yes! All psychotropic substance and drugs make change in human
behaviour, perception and emotion. The human body still runs "psychological
program", that is , "the process of psychological activity", and human behavior is
determined by "psychological program".
Why am I passionate about neuroscience?
 I am passionate about making a difference in the lives of people suffering
from diseases. For me, neuroscience research is a privilege that goes far
beyond any job or career, and it enables me to share the responsibility of helping
patients who are suffering from neurological disease.
Does neuroscience need behavior?
 In most cases, we argue that study of the neural implementation of
behavior is best investigated after such behavioral work. Thus, we
advocate a more pluralistic notion of neuroscience when it comes to the brain-
behavior relationship: behavioral work provides understanding, whereas neural
interventions test causality.

What is human neuropsychology?

 Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology that is concerned with how a
person's cognition and behavior are related to the brain and the rest of
the nervous system. Professionals in this branch of psychology often focus on
how injuries or illnesses of the brain affect cognitive and behavioral functions.