What is neuroscience, and what is its purpose?

The nervous system is divided into 'central' and 'peripheral.' The reason both are referred to as the nervous system is actually because the word for nerve in English is 'neuron' (neuroscience/neurobiology), and neurons exist in both the central system (the brain) and the peripheral system (the spinal cord).

These are the biological building blocks that make us who we are, evolving through internal and external influences. Therefore, neuroscience was long considered a branch of biology and was part of medical faculties (hence the term 'neurobiology').

Now it is known that neuroscience is a multidisciplinary field, encompassing elements from psychology, genetics, philosophy, computer engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and medicine.

If someone is studying or wants to study neuroscience, what should be said? If you see 'MSc' (Master of Science) on the CV of someone who has completed a neuroscience master's program, you understand that their focus is more on the technical aspect, in the fields of medicine or science. If someone studying neuroscience is asked if they are studying neurology, it implies that they are studying neurology within the neuroscience field, and they likely came to this field after graduating from medical school (if they have a doctorate).

So, depending on your background, your future doctoral program, or the area of your thesis during your master's, your position within the field of neuroscience may vary.

Therefore, asking someone studying neuroscience, "What area are you interested in?" is more professional.

Apart from that, studying neuroscience as an MA (Master of Arts) is not very common, but some schools offer this, with Humboldt University in Germany being the most well-known. According to their definitions, students studying neuroscience as an MA approach it more theoretically and philosophically. Those interested in pursuing research in neurophilosophy or evolutionary neuroscience might find this satisfying. They avoid some of the medical knowledge that could be burdensome in an MSc (especially for those who don't come from medical backgrounds).

Neuroscience has about 17 subfields, but researchers often conduct research in several fields simultaneously. Let's take a glance at these fields:

• Affective: neuronal response to emotional states

• Behavioral: the biological basis of behavior

• Cellular: physiological examination of neurons

• Clinical: disorders occurring in the nervous system, e.g., the accumulation of tau protein in Alzheimer's (while it is examined at a cellular level, psychiatrists approach it more 'mentally' - otherwise, they would be explaining tau protein to a clinic patient, but they also study anatomy, so there are some overlaps)

• Cognitive Neuroscience: Close to psychology and somewhat similar to behavioral neuroscience. Sometimes, researchers in cognitive neuroscience may delve into the field of neuropsychology because both involve cognitive processes. In fact, cognitive neuroscience can be said to be a subfield of neuropsychology (for example, attention, perspective perception - concepts that can be explained more generally and abstractly). Those dealing with cognitive neuroscience may sometimes shift to Computational: Here, the brain is simulated by a computer, or artificial intelligence may be discussed.

• Cultural: Examines intercultural or intergenerational variability in genes and consciousness.

• Neuroengineering: Computational (computer-based) but used for the treatment of disorders, e.g., creating an arm, repairing optic nerves.

• Paleoneurology: Tries to examine the brain through fossils.

• Systemic: Deals with neural circuits, e.g., the dopamine pathway, descending and ascending pathways (between the central and peripheral systems).

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