The Discipline of Neuroscience
According to US News and World Report, there are just under 400 undergraduate neuroscience programs across the country. This is not surprising.
The discipline of neuroscience has been a quickly rising field in the natural sciences. In 1969, the Society for Neuroscience boasted a mere 400 members. Currently, its membership has soared to over 35,000 members from 95 countries. Compared to other areas within the natural sciences, neuroscience is still in its relative infancy. Since there is so much to discover, it can be very attractive to future scientific explorers.
Prospective students are coming to understand that the term "neuroscientist" is used broadly to describe one who works in this field, but many of these scientists pursue a career in a specialized area of neuroscience. Some specialty areas involve the study of the nervous system or brain, while others involve the study of how the system and brain interact with external or internal factors. The following is just a sampling of the types of professions that may be pursued within the framework of Neuroscience:
- Behavioral/Cognitive Neuroscientist Studies functions such as perception, learning, and memory
- Clinical Neuroscientist Applies research to prevent and treat neurological disorders
- Developmental Neuroscientist Studies how the brain grows and changes
- Neuroanatomist Studies the nervous system's anatomy
- Neurobiologist Studies the nervous system's biology
- Neurochemist Studies the nervous system's chemistry
- Neuropathologist Studies nervous system diseases
- Neuropharmacologist Studies how different medicines affect the nervous system or behavior
- Neurophysiologist Studies the composition of the nervous system
- Neuropsychologist Studies relationships between the brain and behavior
- Neurosurgeon Performs surgery on the nervous system
- Additional Health Related Professions Physician Assistants, Dentists, Audiologists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Pharmacist ()
- Public Health
- Science Writing