research topics neuroscience

Research Topics & Ideas: Neuroscience

50 Topic Ideas To Kickstart Your Research Project

If you’re just starting out exploring neuroscience-related topics for your dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research by providing a hearty list of neuroscience-related research ideas , including examples from recent studies.

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . These topic ideas provided here are intentionally broad and generic , so keep in mind that you will need to develop them further. Nevertheless, they should inspire some ideas for your project.

To develop a suitable research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan to fill that gap. If this sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Neuroscience-Related Research Topics

• Investigating the neural mechanisms underlying memory consolidation during sleep.
• The role of neuroplasticity in recovery from traumatic brain injury.
• Analyzing the impact of chronic stress on hippocampal function.
• The neural correlates of anxiety disorders: A functional MRI study.
• Investigating the effects of meditation on brain structure and function in mindfulness practitioners.
• The role of the gut-brain axis in the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
• Analyzing the neurobiological basis of addiction and its implications for treatment.
• The impact of prenatal exposure to environmental toxins on neurodevelopment.
• Investigating gender differences in brain aging and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
• The neural mechanisms of pain perception and its modulation by psychological factors.
• Analyzing the effects of bilingualism on cognitive flexibility and brain aging.
• The role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating mood and emotional responses.
• Investigating the neurobiological underpinnings of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• The impact of virtual reality technology on cognitive rehabilitation in stroke patients.
• Analyzing the neural basis of social cognition deficits in autism spectrum disorders.
• The role of neuroinflammation in the progression of multiple sclerosis.
• Investigating the effects of dietary interventions on brain health and cognitive function.
• The neural substrates of decision-making under risk and uncertainty.
• Analyzing the impact of early life stress on brain development and mental health outcomes.
• The role of dopamine in motivation and reward processing in the human brain.
• Investigating neural circuitry changes in depression and response to antidepressants.
• The impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance and neural function.
• Analyzing the brain mechanisms involved in empathy and moral reasoning.
• The role of the prefrontal cortex in executive function and impulse control.
• Investigating the neurophysiological basis of schizophrenia.

Neuroscience Research Ideas (Continued)

• The impact of chronic pain on brain structure and connectivity.
• Analyzing the effects of physical exercise on neurogenesis and cognitive aging.
• The neural mechanisms underlying hallucinations in psychiatric and neurological disorders.
• Investigating the impact of music therapy on brain recovery post-stroke.
• The role of astrocytes in neural communication and brain homeostasis.
• Analyzing the effect of hormone fluctuations on mood and cognition in women.
• The impact of neurofeedback training on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Investigating the neural basis of resilience to stress and trauma.
• The role of the cerebellum in non-motor cognitive and affective functions.
• Analyzing the contribution of genetics to individual differences in brain structure and function.
• The impact of air pollution on neurodevelopment and cognitive decline.
• Investigating the neural mechanisms of visual perception and visual illusions.
• The role of mirror neurons in empathy and social understanding.
• Analyzing the neural correlates of language development and language disorders.
• The impact of social isolation on neurocognitive health in the elderly.
• Investigating the brain mechanisms involved in chronic fatigue syndrome.
• The role of serotonin in mood regulation and its implications for antidepressant therapies.
• Analyzing the neural basis of impulsivity and its relation to risky behaviors.
• The impact of mobile technology usage on attention and brain function.
• Investigating the neural substrates of fear and anxiety-related disorders.
• The role of the olfactory system in memory and emotional processing.
• Analyzing the impact of gut microbiome alterations on central nervous system diseases.
• The neural mechanisms of placebo and nocebo effects.
• Investigating cortical reorganization following limb amputation and phantom limb pain.
• The role of epigenetics in neural development and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Recent Neuroscience Studies

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual studies in the neuroscience space to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of recent studies to help refine your thinking. These are actual studies,  so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• The Neurodata Without Borders ecosystem for neurophysiological data science (Rübel et al., 2022)
• Genetic regulation of central synapse formation and organization in Drosophila melanogaster (Duhart & Mosca, 2022)
• Embracing brain and behaviour: Designing programs of complementary neurophysiological and behavioural studies (Kirwan et al., 2022).
• Neuroscience and Education (Georgieva, 2022)
• Why Wait? Neuroscience Is for Everyone! (Myslinski, 2022)
• Neuroscience Knowledge and Endorsement of Neuromyths among Educators: What Is the Scenario in Brazil? (Simoes et al., 2022)
• Design of Clinical Trials and Ethical Concerns in Neurosciences (Mehanna, 2022) Methodological Approaches and Considerations for Generating Evidence that Informs the Science of Learning (Anderson, 2022)
• Exploring the research on neuroscience as a basis to understand work-based outcomes and to formulate new insights into the effective management of human resources in the workplace: A review study (Menon & Bhagat, 2022)
• Neuroimaging Applications for Diagnosis and Therapy of Pathologies in the Central and Peripheral Nervous System (Middei, 2022)
• The Role of Human Communicative Competence in Post-Industrial Society (Ilishova et al., 2022)
• Gold nanostructures: synthesis, properties, and neurological applications (Zare et al., 2022)
• Interpretable Graph Neural Networks for Connectome-Based Brain Disorder Analysis (Cui et al., 2022)

As you can see, these research topics are a lot more focused than the generic topic ideas we presented earlier. So, for you to develop a high-quality research topic, you’ll need to get specific and laser-focused on a specific context with specific variables of interest.  In the video below, we explore some other important things you’ll need to consider when crafting your research topic.

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If you’re still unsure about how to find a quality research topic, check out our Research Topic Kickstarter service, which is the perfect starting point for developing a unique, well-justified research topic.

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121 Original Neuroscience Research Topics

Now, wouldn’t it be great if you had a list of awesome neuroscience research topics to choose from? Our PhD dissertation help would definitely make writing a thesis or dissertation a lot easier. Well, the good news is that we have a long list of neuroscience paper topics for you right here.

The list of topics is updated periodically, so you will surely be able to find a unique topic; something that nobody has though of yet. And yes, you can use any of our topics for free.

Writing a Neuroscience Dissertation

To write a good dissertation, you need more than just our interesting neuroscience topics. Your supervisor expects you to make some progress pretty quickly, so you really need all the help you can get. You can get all the assistance you need to get started quickly from our dissertation experts and you’ll also find the following guide useful:

Set up your project and conduct the necessary research and data analysis. Don’t forget to think about an interesting, captivating thesis statement. Start by writing the first chapter of the dissertation, the introduction. This will provide your readers with comprehensive background information about your study. Write the Literature Review chapter. This will take some time, especially if you are dealing with a popular subject. Write the Methodology chapter. This is basically an iteration and in-depth description of each and every method you have used to collect the data. Write the Results chapter. In this chapter, you will present your readers the results of your research. You don’t need to provide your own take on the data yet. Next comes the Discussion (or Analysis) chapter. This is where you are free to discuss your results and show your readers how they support your thesis. Finally, the Conclusion chapter wraps everything up. You can summarize your methods, results and analysis and make it clear that your paper has answered all the relevant research questions. Write the References section and the Appendices section. Edit and proofread your work thoroughly to make sure you don’t lose points over some minor mistakes – or have our expert proofreaders and editors do it for you.

This step-by-step guide applies to any thesis or dissertation. However, before you even get this far, you need a great topic to start with. Fortunately, we have 121 brand new topics for you right here on this page.

Interesting Neuroscience Topics

If you are looking for some of the most interesting neuroscience topics, you have definitely arrived at the right place. Our experts have put together the best list of ideas for you:

• Research the occurrence of cerebrovascular disease in the United States
• What causes a headache?
• An in-depth look at muscular dystrophy
• The causes of multiple sclerosis
• Talk about neuroregeneration
• Define cognitive neuroscience
• Everything about dementia
• Study brain development from birth to age 2
• What causes Parkinson’s disease?
• The function of peripheral nerves
• What are vestibular disorders?
• Pain and the science behind it
• An in-depth analysis of stem cells

Engaging Topics in Neuroscience

Are you looking for some engaging topics in neuroscience? If you want the best ideas, all you have to do is take a look at the following list and take your pick:

• Research the Down syndrome
• A closer look at ADHD
• What causes brain tumors?
• What causes epilepsy episodes?
• Research the occurrence of schizophrenia in the UK
• An in-depth look at brain stimulation
• Treating severe depression in young adults
• Improving memory in the adult population
• The importance of sleep for brain health
• Mapping the human brain

Comprehensive Neuroscience Topic for Every Student

The nice thing about our blog is that we have a comprehensive neuroscience topic for every student. Even better, all our topics are relatively simple, so you don’t have to spend a lot of time doing research:

• The future of brain implants
• The processes behind depression
• The role of dopamine
• How are emotions created?
• Love starts in your brain, not your heart
• ADHD behavior and brain activity
• Effects of illegal drugs on dopamine production
• How does dyslexia manifest itself?
• Early stages of Schizophrenia
• The link between gut bacteria and the brain
• Studying the brains of people with a high IQ

Neuroscience Research Questions

The best way to get ideas for your next paper is to take a look at some original neuroscience research questions. Here are some that should get you started right away:

• How do brain tumors cause damage?
• What causes substance addiction?
• What role does the brain play in autistic spectrum disorders?
• Does being a vegetarian influence your brain?
• What causes chronic migraines?
• Why is Pierre Paul Broca’s work important?
• Why is stress so dangerous for the brain?
• How do genes influence the onset of Alzheimer’s disease?
• What can cause a brain tumor?
• Does music affect the human brain?
• Can repeated head injuries damage the brain? (think about modern sports)
• What does being Bipolar I mean?

Easy Neuroscience Paper Topics

Our experts have created a list of easy neuroscience paper topics for you. You could start writing your thesis in no time if you choose one of these great ideas:

• What causes epilepsy?
• A closer look at Alzheimer’s disease
• What can cause a loss of feeling?
• The effects of dementia on the brain
• The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
• What can cause memory loss?
• Mitigating headaches without medication
• The effects of a mild stroke
• Talk about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• What can cause a lack of coordination?

Neuroscience Research Topics for College Students

We have a list of awesome neuroscience research topics for college students and you can use any one of them for free. Take a look at our best ideas yet:

• Can the brain be linked to substance abuse?
• How does the brain recognize people?
• Latest development in brain surgery
• An in-depth look at neuroplasticity
• Innovative medication for treating brain disorders
• Treating Alzheimer’s in 2023
• How damaging is Cannabis for the brain?

Cognitive Neuroscience Research Topics

If you want to talk about something in cognitive neuroscience, we have put together the best and most interesting cognitive neuroscience research topics:

• The role played by neurons in our body
• What is Magnetoencephalography?
• How difficult is it to map the entire brain?
• Define consciousness from a neurological POV
• How does our brain affect our perception?
• Discuss Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation procedures
• Latest advancements in Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Brain Research Topics

Brain research is a very interesting thing to talk about, especially since we are still struggling to understand how certain things work. Take a look at some amazing brain research topics:

• Study the brain development of an infant
• Brain tumor stages
• The effect of social media on the human brain
• Multiple sclerosis treatment options
• What can cause muscular dystrophy?
• Discuss 3 cerebrovascular diseases
• Interesting breakthroughs in cellular neuroscience
• Talk about our brain’s problem-solving abilities
• The effects of sugar on brain chemistry

Neurobiology Topics

We agree, researching a topic in neurobiology is not easy. However, with the right neurobiology topics, you could write an awesome thesis without spending years working on it:

• Research the role of the amygdala
• What are brain neurotransmitters?
• The causes of posttraumatic stress disorder
• How do we recognize a bipolar disorder?
• The importance of hormones
• Talk about experimental psychology

Behavioral Neuroscience Research Topics

Do you want to write your dissertation on a behavioral neuroscience topic? Our experts have compiled a list of the most interesting behavioral neuroscience research topics for you:

• The processes behind sensation
• How does the brain control our movement?
• An in-depth look at motivated behavior
• Best way to diagnose a sleep disorder
• Improving success at academic activities
• How does your brain perceive the environment?

Cool Neuroscience Topics

We have some very cool neuroscience topics right here and the good news is that they’re all relatively easy. The list has been updated recently and new topics have been added:

• Effects of plant-based diets
• The life and work of Cornelia Bargmann
• Discuss a breakthrough in neurotech
• 3D brain function mapping
• Discuss the importance of brain implants
• The life and work of Róbert Bárány

Controversial Topics in Neuroscience

Just like any other field, neuroscience has its controversies. And what better way to start a dissertation than finding the most controversial topics in neuroscience:

• Discuss the Bayesian brain theory
• Ethics behind wearable brain gadgets
• Discuss postnatal neurogenesis
• Can our brain “deep learn”?
• Invasive brain imaging procedures
• How do we differentiate between good and bad?

Hot Topics in Neuroscience

Did you know that getting hot topics in neuroscience is not overly difficult? This section of our list of topics is updated periodically, so you can definitely find an original idea right here:

• Electrical brain stimulation methods
• Define the concept of Free Will
• Talk about hereditary brain disorders
• How is speech formed?
• Can our brain hibernate?
• What causes aggressive behavior?

Current Topics in Neuroscience

The best way to make your thesis interesting is to write about something that is of great interest. This means you need to choose one of our current topics in neuroscience:

• Cerebellar Neurons that can help you lose weight
• Effects of a meat-based diet
• Latest brain mapping technology
• CT scans in 2023
• Brain implants that can control a computer
• An in-depth look at super-agers

Complex Neurological Research Topics

Are you looking for some complex neurological research topics? If you want to give a difficult topic a try, don’t hesitate to choose one of these excellent ideas:

• An in-depth look at the Demyelinating disease
• The effects of a cerebrovascular stroke
• Bioterrorism in 2023
• Legal issues in neurology
• Dopamine’s link to aggressiveness
• Brain changes that lead to alcohol addiction

Can You Help Me With My Thesis?

So, can you help me with my thesis? Of course, we can help you with much more than some interesting neuroscience research paper topics. Our experienced professionals are ready to give you the best dissertation assistance on the Internet and make sure you get a top score on your paper. All our university educated ENL writers have extensive experience writing dissertations on any subject and topic you can imagine. These cheap dissertation writing services can deliver a final paper in no time, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us even if you are on a tight deadline.

Our PhD-holding writers and editors are ready to spring into action right now. We can help you with the research, as well as with thesis writing, editing and proofreading. Moreover, we can write a high quality research paper for any high school, college or university student. Your professor will love our work – guaranteed. Our company has 24/7 customer support, so you can order custom academic content online at any time of day or night. What are you waiting for? Give us a try and get a discount!

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Harvard researchers are deeply committed to understanding nervous system development and function, in both healthy and disease states. Basic scientists and clinician-researchers work together across departments, programs and centers to study the nervous system from diverse perspectives, as described in the overlapping subfields below.

Image Credits

Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Courtesy of Lauren Orefice (MGH/HMS) Tools and Technology: Courtesy of Barbara Robens, lab of Ann Poduri (BCH) Sensory and Motor Systems: Courtesy of Lauren Orefice (MGH/HMS) Mental Health and Illness: Courtesy of Olga Alekseenko, Lab of Susan Dymecki (HMS) Neurodegenerative Disease: Courtesy of Jeff Lichtman (Harvard) and Takao Hensch (Harvard/BCH) Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience: Courtesy of Isle Bastille, lab of Lisa Goodrich (HMS) Theory and Computation: Courtesy of Tianyang Ye, lab of Hongkun Park (Harvard) Development Neuroscience: Courtesy of Katherine Morillo, lab of Christopher A. Walsh (BCH)

150+ Astonishing Neuroscience Research Topics For Students In 2023

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system, exploring how they work together to control our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It’s a field that delves deep into the complexities of our inner workings.

Why Is Neuroscience Important? Understanding neuroscience is crucial because it unlocks the mysteries of human cognition, behavior, and health. It helps us comprehend mental disorders, develop therapies, and enhance well-being.

In this blog, we will guide you on how to select a captivating subject for your research paper, and we have an extensive list of 150+ astonishing topics suitable for students in 2023. Whether you are a neuroscientist or just curious about the brain, stay tuned with us to learn more about neuroscience research topics. 

What Is Neuroscience?

Table of Contents

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and the nervous system. It helps us understand how our brain works and how it controls things like thinking, feeling, and moving. Imagine your brain as the boss of your body, and neuroscience is like a detective trying to figure out how the boss gives orders and makes things happen.

Neuroscientists use tools like brain scans and experiments to learn about the brain. They also study diseases that affect the brain, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, to find ways to help people who have these conditions. So, neuroscience is all about discovering the secrets of our brain and helping us live healthier and happier lives by understanding how it works.

Why Is Neuroscience Important?

Neuroscience is important because it helps us understand how our brain and nervous system work, impacting our overall health and well-being. Here are 5 key reasons why neuroscience is crucial:

• Mental Health: It helps us comprehend mental disorders like depression and anxiety, leading to better treatments and support.
• Neurological Diseases: Neuroscience research aids in finding cures and treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy.
• Learning and Education: It guides educators in developing effective teaching methods by uncovering how the brain learns and remembers.
• Addiction and Behavior: Neuroscience helps us address addiction issues and understand human behavior better.
• Brain Development: It provides insights into child development, allowing us to support children’s growth and well-being.

How to Choose a Topic for Neuroscience Research Paper

Here are some steps on how to choose a topic for a neuroscience research paper:

1. Personal Interest

Select a topic that genuinely interests you. If you are curious about a specific aspect of the brain or nervous system, it will make your research more enjoyable and motivating. Think about what you find fascinating: memory, emotions, or brain disorders.

2. Relevance

Ensure your topic is relevant and meaningful. Consider how your research can contribute to our understanding of the brain or benefit society. For instance, studying a topic related to brain diseases can directly impact improving treatments and people’s lives.

3. Availability of Resources

Check if there are enough resources available for your chosen topic. This includes access to research papers, books, and equipment. It’s essential to have the necessary tools and information to conduct your research effectively.

4. Feasibility

Assess the feasibility of your research topic. Can you realistically conduct experiments or gather data on this subject? Consider the time, budget, and access to necessary facilities or subjects for your research.

5. Guidance and Mentorship

Seek guidance from professors or mentors in the field. They can help you refine your topic, provide valuable insights, and point you in the right direction. Having expert guidance can significantly enhance the quality of your neuroscience research paper.

Here are 150+ astonishing neuroscience research topics for students in 2023 : 

Simple Neuroscience Research Topics

1. The impact of sleep on memory consolidation.

2. The effects of stress on the brain.

3. How does exercise improve cognitive function?

4. The role of neurotransmitters in mood disorders.

5. The neurobiology of addiction.

6. Brain development in infants.

7. The effects of meditation on brain health.

8. Neural mechanisms of decision-making.

9. Neurological basis of learning disabilities.

10. The relationship between brain injuries and personality changes.

Interesting Neuroscience Research Paper Topics

11. The connection between gut microbiota and brain function.

12. Neural correlates of empathy and compassion.

13. Neuroplasticity and its applications in rehabilitation.

14. The impact of music on brain activity and emotions.

15. Brain-computer interfaces and their potential for communication.

16. The role of genetics in neurological disorders.

17. Neuroimaging techniques for studying brain disorders.

18. The neuroscience of creativity and innovation.

19. Cognitive decline in aging and potential interventions.

20. The neural basis of consciousness and self-awareness.

Unique Neuroscience Research Paper Topics

21. The influence of virtual reality on neural perception.

22. Neurobiology of love and romantic attachment.

23. Exploring the neural basis of synesthesia.

24. The role of mirror neurons in social cognition.

25. Neural mechanisms underlying laughter and humor.

26. Brain activity during lucid dreaming.

27. The neuroscience of fear and phobias.

28. Neuroethical considerations in brain enhancement technologies.

29. The impact of environmental toxins on brain health.

30. Neural mechanisms of religious experiences.

Captivating Neuroscience Research Ideas

31. Studying the effects of micro-dosing psychedelics on brain function.

32. Investigating the neural basis of consciousness in non-human animals.

33. The neurobiology of near-death experiences.

34. Exploring the role of neural oscillations in sensory perception.

35. Brain changes in astronauts during long-term space travel.

36. The influence of social media on brain connectivity.

37. Neurocognitive aspects of artificial intelligence.

38. Neural correlates of deja vu experiences.

39. The impact of chronic pain on brain structure and function.

40. Neurological consequences of extreme sports and high-risk activities.

Impressive Neuroscience Research Paper Ideas

41. Mapping the connectome: A comprehensive study of neural networks.

42. Brain-machine interfaces for neuroprosthetics and communication.

43. The potential for brain rejuvenation through stem cell therapies.

44. The neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease and potential treatments.

45. Investigating the neural basis of consciousness disorders.

46. role of epigenetics in brain development and aging.

47. Advanced neuroimaging techniques for studying brain connectivity.

48. Neural mechanisms of memory reconsolidation and erasure.

49. Neurobiology of traumatic brain injuries and recovery.

50. The ethics of cognitive enhancement and neuroenhancement.

Top-trending Neuroscience Research Topics

51. What foods you eat affect the health and performance of your brain.

52. Neurobiology of long COVID and neurological symptoms.

53. The use of artificial intelligence in analyzing brain imaging data.

54. Brain mechanisms underlying social isolation during lockdowns.

55. The role of neuroinflammation in neurological disorders.

56. Developing neuroprotective strategies against neurodegenerative diseases.

57. Neural correlates of mindfulness-based interventions for stress reduction.

58. Brain changes associated with addiction to video games and social media.

59. The neuroscience of racial and gender disparities in healthcare.

60. Neuroethical implications of brain privacy in the digital age.

Neuroscience Thesis Topics

61. Examining the role of dopamine in reward-based learning.

62. Investigating the neural basis of post-traumatic stress disorder.

63. Neurobiological markers of autism spectrum disorder.

64. Brain plasticity and recovery after stroke.

65. The impact of sleep disorders on cognitive function.

66. Neural mechanisms of pain perception and chronic pain management.

67. The role of neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis.

68. Neuroimaging biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer’s disease.

69. Brain-computer interfaces for locked-in syndrome patients.

70. The neural basis of consciousness and its philosophical implications.

• Mental Health Research Topics
• Quantitative Research Topics For STEM Students

Cognitive Neuroscience Research Topics

71. Neural correlates of language processing and comprehension.

72. The role of attention in perceptual processing.

73. Memory consolidation during sleep and wakefulness.

74. Brain mechanisms of decision-making and risk-taking behavior.

75. The neurobiology of creativity and problem-solving.

76. Emotional regulation and its neural substrates.

77. Neural basis of cognitive aging and interventions to improve cognition.

78. Neurocognitive processes involved in learning and education.

79. The impact of mindfulness meditation on cognitive function.

80. Cognitive and neural processes in face recognition.

A Few More Cognitive Neuroscience Research Ideas

81. Neural mechanisms of time perception and its distortions.

82. Investigating the role of the prefrontal cortex in executive functions.

83. The effects of bilingualism on brain structure and cognitive flexibility.

84. Neural substrates of empathy and theory of mind.

85. The influence of culture on the neural processing of emotions.

86. Neural basis of decision-making in ethical dilemmas.

87. Cognitive neuroscience of addiction and relapse prevention.

88. The impact of video gaming on cognitive skills and brain function.

89. Neurocognitive aspects of dyslexia and reading interventions.

90. The role of neurofeedback in enhancing cognitive performance.

Behavioral Neuroscience Research Topics

91. Neural mechanisms of addiction and substance abuse.

92. The role of hormones in shaping behavior and cognition.

93. Brain circuits involved in aggression and violence.

94. Social neuroscience: Understanding the neural basis of social interactions.

95. Investigating the effects of early-life stress on behavior and mental health.

96. Neurobiology of motivation and reward systems.

97. Neural correlates of decision-making in moral dilemmas.

98. Brain mechanisms underlying learning and memory in animals.

99. The impact of traumatic brain injury on behavior and personality.

100. The role of epigenetics in behavioral disorders.

Clinical Neuroscience Research Topics

101. Biomarkers for early diagnosis of neurological diseases.

102. Innovative treatments for neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

103. Neuroimaging in psychiatric disorders: Insights and applications.

104. Advances in neurorehabilitation after brain injuries and strokes.

105. Understanding and treating childhood neurological disorders.

106. Precision medicine in neurology and psychiatry.

107. Brain stimulation techniques for mood disorders and chronic pain.

108. The impact of nutrition on brain health and cognitive function.

109. Psychopharmacology and the development of new psychiatric medications.

110. Ethical considerations in clinical trials for neurological interventions.

Neuropharmacology Research Topics

111. Mechanisms of action of common psychiatric medications.

112. Drug development for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.

113. The neurochemistry of addiction and potential pharmacotherapies.

114. Psychotropic drugs and their effects on neurotransmitter systems.

115. Neuropharmacology of pain management and opioid alternatives.

116. The use of psychedelics to help mental well-being.

117. Pharmacological interventions for neuroinflammatory disorders.

118. Neuropharmacology of sleep and wakefulness.

119. Drug interactions in neurological and psychiatric treatments.

120. Precision medicine approaches in neuropharmacology.

Computational Neuroscience Research Topics

121. Modeling neural networks and their dynamics.

122. Machine learning and artificial intelligence in brain research.

123. Computational models of visual perception and object recognition.

124. Simulating brain diseases and disorders for drug discovery.

125. Theoretical models of consciousness and self-awareness.

126. Neural network algorithms for brain-computer interfaces.

127. Computational approaches to studying neural plasticity.

128. Modeling brain disorders in silico for treatment development.

129. The role of computational neuroscience in understanding neurodevelopment.

130. Ethics and biases in machine learning applications to neuroscience.

Neuroscience and Psychology Research Topics

131. What brain structure has to do with behavioral traits.

132. Neurocognitive processes involved in decision regret.

133. The neural basis of cognitive dissonance.

134. Brain mechanisms underlying the placebo effect.

135. The impact of early-life stress on psychological development.

136. Neurobiology of addiction and its psychological consequences.

137. The role of neural oscillations in consciousness and perception.

138. Neural correlates of emotional intelligence.

139. Cognitive and neural factors in resilience to stress.

140. The psychology of neurofeedback therapy.

Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Topics

141. The neurobiology of depression and novel treatments.

142. Neuroimaging markers for predicting schizophrenia risk.

143. Neural mechanisms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

144. It has to do with mental health and the gut-brain connection.

145. Brain changes associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder ( OCD ).

146. Neural correlates of bipolar disorder and mood swings.

147. How traumatic events in childhood can affect mental health as an adult.

148. Neurobiological underpinnings of eating disorders.

149. Psychiatric genetics and the risk of mental illnesses.

150. Neurocognitive interventions for anxiety disorders.

151. How sleep affects how well kids do in school.

Understanding the importance of neuroscience and picking the right topic for your research paper is crucial in the field of Neuroscience Research Topics. Neuroscience is all about studying the brain and nerves, which helps us learn about brain-related issues and how people think and behave. 

In addition, choosing a good topic is the first step, and we provide you 150+ interesting ones for students in 2023. Whether you’re curious about how the brain changes, addiction, or ways to look at the brain, there are many topics to explore. So, get started on your neuroscience research journey and uncover the secrets of the human mind!

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179+ Interesting Neuroscience Research Topics For Students

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and how it works. It’s like opening a door to a world of wonders, where every discovery sheds light on the inner workings of our minds.

Students are drawn to neuroscience because it helps us understand ourselves better. We want to know what makes us tick, why we behave the way we do, and how we can make a difference in the world through science.

That’s where our blog comes in. We’re here to make neuroscience easy to understand and exciting to explore. 

We’ll share many interesting neuroscience research topics that students can dive into, so come along as we journey through the wonders of the brain together!

Neuroscience: What is it?

Table of Contents

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system. It delves into understanding how these intricate systems function, from the smallest neurons to complex brain networks. 

By exploring the structure, organization, and functions of the brain, neuroscience seeks to unravel the mysteries of human behavior, cognition, and consciousness. 

Through various methods such as imaging techniques, electrophysiology, and behavioral studies, neuroscientists aim to decipher the underlying mechanisms of neurological disorders, enhance brain health, and ultimately advance our understanding of what it means to be human.

Students Should Understand the Importance of Neuroscience Research Topics

Understanding the importance of neuroscience research topics is crucial for students for several reasons:

Advancing Knowledge

Neuroscience research topics offer students insight into the complexities of the brain and nervous system, fostering a deeper understanding of how these intricate systems shape behavior, cognition, and emotions.

Improving Healthcare

By studying neuroscience, students gain valuable knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of mental health disorders, leading to more effective interventions and destigmatization of mental illness.

Informing Education

Neuroscience research informs teaching practices by elucidating how the brain learns and retains information, guiding educators in creating more effective learning environments and strategies.

Advancing Medical Treatments

Insights gained from neuroscience research contribute to the development of novel treatments for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and epilepsy, offering hope for improved patient outcomes and quality of life.

Exploring Consciousness

Neuroscience research delves into the nature of consciousness, shedding light on philosophical questions about the mind and subjective experience, enriching interdisciplinary dialogues and intellectual inquiry.

List of Best Student-Friendly Neuroscience Research Topics

Here’s a list of neuroscience research topics that students can explore:

Brain Development and Plasticity

• Neuroplasticity in Aging Brains
• Effects of Early Childhood Experiences on Brain Development
• Role of Neurogenesis in Learning and Memory
• Plasticity in the Visual Cortex
• Environmental Influences on Brain Plasticity
• Effects of Exercise on Brain Plasticity
• Developmental Disorders and Brain Plasticity
• Plasticity and Recovery after Brain Injury
• Epigenetic Regulation of Brain Plasticity
• Neuroplasticity and Language Acquisition
• Music and Brain Plasticity
• Plasticity in Neurorehabilitation

Cognitive Neuroscience

• Neural Mechanisms of Decision-Making
• Attention and Working Memory in the Brain
• Neural Basis of Language Processing
• Executive Function and Prefrontal Cortex Activity
• Neural Correlates of Creativity
• Memory Consolidation and Retrieval Mechanisms
• Neural Basis of Emotion Regulation
• Neural Processing of Time Perception
• Brain Networks Underlying Social Cognition
• Neurobiology of Decision-Making Disorders
• Perception and Neural Representations
• Neural Basis of Consciousness

Neurobiology of Mental Disorders

• Neurobiology of Depression and Anxiety
• Schizophrenia: Insights from Neuroimaging Studies
• Molecular Mechanisms of Bipolar Disorder
• Genetics of Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Neurobiology of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Brain Mechanisms
• Addiction and Reward Circuitry in the Brain
• Neurobiology of Eating Disorders
• Neural Correlates of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Neurobiology of PTSD
• Sleep Disorders and Brain Function
• Neural Basis of Schizoaffective Disorder

Neuropharmacology and Drug Development

• Drug Targets in Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Pharmacological Treatment of Epilepsy
• Psychopharmacology of Mood Disorders
• Novel Therapeutic Approaches for Alzheimer’s Disease
• Pharmacological Interventions for Parkinson’s Disease
• Drug Addiction: Neurobiological Insights
• Neuropharmacology of Pain Management
• Pharmacogenomics in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
• Neurotransmitter Systems and Drug Development
• Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery to the Brain
• Herbal Remedies and Neurological Disorders
• Pharmacological Approaches to Enhance Cognitive Function

Neuroimaging Techniques

• Functional MRI (fMRI) and Brain Connectivity
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) in White Matter Tractography
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in Neuroscience Research
• Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and Brain Dynamics
• Structural MRI in Brain Morphometry
• Electroencephalography (EEG) in Cognitive Neuroscience
• Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) for Brain Monitoring
• Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) in Neuroimaging Studies
• Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) in Brain Imaging
• Resting-State Functional Connectivity Analysis
• Multi-Modal Imaging Approaches in Neuroscience
• Advanced Imaging Techniques in Animal Models

Neurogenetics and Epigenetics

• Genetic Variants Associated with Neurological Disorders
• Epigenetic Regulation of Brain Development
• Gene-Environment Interactions in Brain Function
• Neurogenetics of Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Epigenetic Modifications and Memory Formation
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Genetic Risk Factors
• Role of microRNAs in Neural Regulation
• Epigenetic Mechanisms in Addiction
• Genomic Instability and Brain Tumors
• Neuroepigenetics in Aging
• Neurogenetic Basis of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Epigenetic Therapies for Neurological Disorders

Neuroethics and Neurolaw

• Ethical Considerations in Brain-Computer Interfaces
• Privacy and Data Security in Neuroimaging Research
• Neuroenhancement and Cognitive Enhancement Technologies
• Neuroimaging in Legal Decision-Making
• Ethical Implications of Neuropsychiatric Interventions
• Neuroethical Issues in Brain Stimulation Research
• Informed Consent in Neuroscientific Studies
• Ethical Challenges in Neuroimaging of Consciousness
• Neuroethics of Brain-Computer Interface Technology
• Neuroethics and Artificial Intelligence
• Neurolaw and Brain-Based Lie Detection
• Ethical Issues in Neurological Disorders Research

Neurobiology of Learning and Memory

• Hippocampal Function in Spatial Memory
• Neurobiological Basis of Fear Conditioning
• Memory Reconsolidation Mechanisms
• Neurobiology of Habit Formation
• Neuroplasticity and Skill Learning
• Synaptic Mechanisms of Memory Encoding
• Molecular Basis of Long-Term Potentiation (LTP)
• Neurobiology of Memory Retrieval
• Aging and Memory Decline
• Neurobiological Processes in Motor Learning
• Emotional Memory Processing in the Brain
• Memory Formation in Sleep and Dreaming

Neuroimmunology

• Role of Microglia in Brain Development and Disease
• Neuroinflammation in Neurological Disorders
• Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration
• Immunomodulatory Therapies for Multiple Sclerosis
• Neuroimmune Interactions in Psychiatric Disorders
• Role of T Cells in Central Nervous System Disorders
• Neuroinflammatory Responses to Traumatic Brain Injury
• Cytokine Signaling in Neurological Diseases
• Gut-Brain Axis and Neuroimmune Communication
• Autoimmune Encephalitis and Neurological Dysfunction
• Immune Cell Trafficking in the Central Nervous System
• Neuroimmune Crosstalk in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Computational Neuroscience

• Neural Network Models of Learning and Memory
• Computational Approaches to Brain Connectivity Analysis
• Spiking Neural Networks for Information Processing
• Machine Learning Applications in Neuroimaging
• Modeling Neural Oscillations and Synchronization
• Reinforcement Learning in Decision-Making Models
• Network Dynamics in Brain Diseases
• Neural Encoding and Decoding Techniques
• Computational Models of Visual Perception
• Brain-Inspired Computing Architectures
• Computational Psychiatry and Mental Health Modeling
• Computational Approaches to Brain-Computer Interfaces

Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces

• Development of Neuroprosthetics for Motor Rehabilitation
• Brain-Machine Interface Technologies for Communication
• Neurofeedback Systems for Cognitive Enhancement
• Neurostimulation Techniques for Treating Neuropsychiatric Disorders
• Closed-Loop Systems in Deep Brain Stimulation
• Wearable Devices for Monitoring Brain Activity
• Optogenetics in Controlling Neural Circuits
• Brain-Computer Interface Applications in Virtual Reality
• Neurotechnology for Restoring Sensory Functions
• Neuromorphic Computing and Brain-Inspired Chips
• Brain-Computer Interface Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities
• Ethical Considerations in Neuroengineering Research

Neurobiology of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

• Brain Regions Involved in Sleep Regulation
• Role of Melatonin in Circadian Rhythms
• Circadian Clock Genes and Brain Health
• Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Performance
• Neurobiology of Dreaming
• Sleep Architecture and Memory Consolidation
• Effects of Shift Work on Brain Function
• Circadian Rhythms and Metabolic Health
• Brain Plasticity During Sleep
• Sleep Disorders in Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Chronobiology and Mood Disorders

Neurobiology of Sensory Systems

• Auditory Processing in the Brain
• Visual Perception and Neural Processing
• Somatosensory System and Tactile Perception
• Olfactory Processing and Brain Circuits
• Gustatory System and Taste Perception
• Multisensory Integration in the Brain
• Vestibular System and Spatial Orientation
• Pain Perception and Neurobiology
• Neurobiology of Itch Sensation
• Sensory Adaptation Mechanisms in the Brain
• Crossmodal Plasticity in Sensory Deprivation
• Neurobiology of Proprioception

Neurobiology of Motivation and Reward

• Dopaminergic Pathways in Reward Processing
• Neural Basis of Motivated Behavior
• Incentive Salience and Brain Circuits
• Neurobiology of Addiction and Reward Dysfunction
• Role of Serotonin in Mood and Motivation
• Endocannabinoid System and Reward Processing
• Neuronal Mechanisms of Reinforcement Learning
• Hormonal Influences on Motivation and Reward
• Neurobiology of Hedonic Eating Behavior
• Neural Circuits Underlying Social Reward
• Motivational Deficits in Neuropsychiatric Disorders
• Reward Prediction Errors and Learning

Neurobiology of Aging and Neurodegeneration

• Cellular Senescence and Brain Aging
• Oxidative Stress and Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Protein Aggregation in Neurodegeneration
• Neuroinflammation and Age-Related Cognitive Decline
• Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurodegenerative Disorders
• Role of Autophagy in Brain Health and Aging
• Neurotrophic Factors and Brain Aging
• Genetic Risk Factors for Age-Related Neurodegeneration
• Environmental Factors in Brain Aging
• Neuroprotective Strategies for Age-Related Cognitive Impairment
• Lifestyle Interventions for Brain Health and Longevity

How to Choose a Neuroscience Research Topic?

Choosing a neuroscience research topic can be an exciting yet daunting task. Here are some steps to help you navigate the process:

• Identify Your Interests: Start by reflecting on areas of neuroscience that intrigue you the most, such as cognitive neuroscience, neuropharmacology, or neurodevelopment.
• Review Existing Literature: Conduct thorough research to understand current trends, gaps, and unanswered questions within your chosen area.
• Consider Feasibility: Evaluate the resources, equipment, and expertise available to you, ensuring your chosen topic is manageable within your constraints.
• Consult with Mentors: Seek guidance from professors, advisors, or experts in the field to refine your ideas and gain valuable insights.
• Brainstorm Potential Topics: Generate a list of potential research topics based on your interests, literature review, and feedback from mentors.
• Narrow Down Your Choices: Assess each potential topic’s relevance, novelty, and significance to select the most promising one for your research.
• Define Clear Objectives: Clearly articulate the research questions or hypotheses you aim to address with your chosen topic.
• Consider Ethical Implications: Ensure your research topic aligns with ethical standards and regulations governing research involving human or animal subjects.
• Seek Approval: Present your chosen topic to relevant authorities or review boards for approval before proceeding with your research.
• Stay Flexible: Remain open to adjustments and refinements to your research topic as you delve deeper into your study and encounter new insights along the way.

Resources for Students Interested in Neuroscience

For students interested in neuroscience, there are various resources available to enhance their understanding and engagement with the field. Here are some recommended resources:

Academic Journals

Access reputable neuroscience journals like “Neuron” and “Journal of Neuroscience” for cutting-edge research articles.

Online Courses

Platforms like Coursera , edX , and Khan Academy offer free or low-cost courses covering various aspects of neuroscience.

Explore fundamental neuroscience textbooks like “ Principles of Neural Science ” by Kandel et al. or “Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain” by Bear et al.

Research Institutes

Consider internships or volunteer opportunities at neuroscience research institutes or university labs for hands-on experience.

Professional Organizations

Join organizations like the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) for networking opportunities, conferences, and resources.

Neuroscience Websites

Websites like Neuroscience for Kids provide educational resources, activities, and information for students.

Podcasts and Blogs

Listen to neuroscience podcasts or follow neuroscience blogs for accessible explanations and discussions on current topics.

Wrapping Up

Neuroscience research offers students a profound opportunity to delve into the complexities of the brain and nervous system, shaping our understanding of human cognition, behavior, and health. 

As we conclude our exploration, I encourage readers to embrace the excitement of neuroscience, delve deeper into its mysteries, and contribute to the ongoing scientific dialogue.

Let’s remain curious, engaged, and open to the wonders of the brain, for within its intricate pathways lie endless possibilities waiting to be discovered. 

Together, let’s continue our journey of discovery and unraveling the secrets of the mind.

1. What are some career options in neuroscience research?

Diverse pathways exist, including academic research, healthcare, biotechnology, education, and technology development.

2. What are some current challenges and future directions in neuroscience research?

Understanding consciousness, treating brain disorders, developing brain-computer interfaces, and personalized medicine are some exciting areas of exploration.

3. What are some emerging trends or areas of interest in neuroscience research?

Emerging trends in neuroscience research include neurotechnology, brain-machine interfaces, computational neuroscience, and neuroethics.

4. What are some reputable journals and databases for neuroscience research?

Some reputable journals include Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, and Journal of Neuroscience. Databases like PubMed and PsychInfo also provide access to a wealth of neuroscientific literature.

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Collection  31 March 2021

Top 100 in Neuroscience

This collection highlights our most downloaded* neuroscience papers published in 2020. Featuring authors from around the world, these papers showcase valuable research from an international community.

*Data obtained from SN Insights which is based on Digital Science's Dimensions.

Characteristic patterns of EEG oscillations in sheep ( Ovis aries) induced by ketamine may explain the psychotropic effects seen in humans

• A. U. Nicol
• A. J. Morton

Emotions and brain function are altered up to one month after a single high dose of psilocybin

• Frederick S. Barrett
• Manoj K. Doss
• Roland R. Griffiths

Relating Natural Language Aptitude to Individual Differences in Learning Programming Languages

• Chantel S. Prat
• Tara M. Madhyastha
• Chu-Hsuan Kuo

Memristive synapses connect brain and silicon spiking neurons

• Alexantrou Serb
• Andrea Corna
• Themistoklis Prodromakis

Acute stress improves the effectivity of cognitive emotion regulation in men

• Katja Langer
• Bianca Hagedorn
• Valerie L. Jentsch

Chocolate for breakfast prevents circadian desynchrony in experimental models of jet-lag and shift-work

• Carolina Escobar
• Estefania Espitia-Bautista
• Ruud M. Buijs

Association of relative brain age with tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and genetic variants

• Arthur W. Toga

Dietary flavanols improve cerebral cortical oxygenation and cognition in healthy adults

• Gabriele Gratton
• Samuel R. Weaver
• Catarina Rendeiro

A cognitive profile of multi-sensory imagery, memory and dreaming in aphantasia

• Alexei J. Dawes
• Rebecca Keogh
• Joel Pearson

Dogs can sense weak thermal radiation

• Anna Bálint
• Attila Andics
• Ronald H. H. Kröger

Effect of manual approaches with osteopathic modality on brain correlates of interoception: an fMRI study

• Francesco Cerritelli
• Piero Chiacchiaretta
• Antonio Ferretti

Electrophysiological evidence of preserved hearing at the end of life

• Elizabeth G. Blundon
• Romayne E. Gallagher
• Lawrence M. Ward

Multilevel fMRI adaptation for spoken word processing in the awake dog brain

• Márta Gácsi

The Cognitive Effects of Statins are Modified by Age

• Ahmed M. Alsehli
• Helgi B. Schiöth

Mindfulness Meditation Activates Altruism

• Sage K. Iwamoto
• Marcus Alexander
• Akihiro Nishi

How odor cues help to optimize learning during sleep in a real life-setting

• Franziska Neumann
• Vitus Oberhauser
• Jürgen Kornmeier

Indoor incense burning impacts cognitive functions and brain functional connectivity in community older adults

• Adrian Wong
• Vincent Chung-tong Mok

Neuroadaptive modelling for generating images matching perceptual categories

• Lauri Kangassalo
• Michiel Spapé
• Tuukka Ruotsalo

40-Hz Binaural beats enhance training to mitigate the attentional blink

• Bernhard Ross
• Marc Danzell Lopez

Fluidity of gender identity induced by illusory body-sex change

• Pawel Tacikowski
• H. Henrik Ehrsson

Trait and state anxiety are mapped differently in the human brain

• Francesca Saviola
• Edoardo Pappaianni
• Nicola De Pisapia

Continuous reorganization of cortical information flow in multiple sclerosis: A longitudinal fMRI effective connectivity study

• Vinzenz Fleischer
• Muthuraman Muthuraman
• Sergiu Groppa

Effects of l -theanine–caffeine combination on sustained attention and inhibitory control among children with ADHD: a proof-of-concept neuroimaging RCT

• Chanaka N. Kahathuduwa
• Sarah Wakefield
• Ann Mastergeorge

Evening home lighting adversely impacts the circadian system and sleep

• Sean W. Cain
• Elise M. McGlashan
• Andrew J. K. Phillips

Gait asymmetry, and bilateral coordination of gait during a six-minute walk test in persons with multiple sclerosis

• Meir Plotnik
• Joanne M. Wagner
• Robert T. Naismith

Brain experiments imply adaptation mechanisms which outperform common AI learning algorithms

• Shira Sardi

Tinnitus and risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease: a retrospective nationwide population-based cohort study

• Hsuan-Te Chu
• Chih‐Sung Liang
• Cheng-Che Shen

Neurophysiological and behavioural markers of compassion

• Jeffrey J. Kim
• Stacey L. Parker
• James N. Kirby

The Acute Effects of the Atypical Dissociative Hallucinogen Salvinorin A on Functional Connectivity in the Human Brain

• Darrick G. May

Gut microbiota depletion by chronic antibiotic treatment alters the sleep/wake architecture and sleep EEG power spectra in mice

• Yukino Ogawa
• Chika Miyoshi
• Masashi Yanagisawa

Dietary prebiotics alter novel microbial dependent fecal metabolites that improve sleep

• Robert S. Thompson
• Fernando Vargas
• Monika Fleshner

Comparison between a wireless dry electrode EEG system with a conventional wired wet electrode EEG system for clinical applications

• Hermann Hinrichs
• Michael Scholz
• Hans-Jochen Heinze

Two nights of recovery sleep restores hippocampal connectivity but not episodic memory after total sleep deprivation

The relationship between subjective sleep quality and cognitive performance in healthy young adults: Evidence from three empirical studies

• Zsófia Zavecz
• Karolina Janacsek

Using diffusion tensor imaging to detect cortical changes in fronto-temporal dementia subtypes

• S. A. Chance

Reorganisation of Brain Hubs across Altered States of Consciousness

• D. Vatansever
• M. Schröter
• E. A. Stamatakis

Effects of daily L-dopa administration on learning and brain structure in older adults undergoing cognitive training: a randomised clinical trial

• Alexander V. Lebedev
• Jonna Nilsson
• Martin Lövdén

Challenges and Opportunities with Causal Discovery Algorithms: Application to Alzheimer’s Pathophysiology

• Xinpeng Shen
• the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative

LSD-induced increases in social adaptation to opinions similar to one’s own are associated with stimulation of serotonin receptors

• Patricia Duerler
• Leonhard Schilbach
• Katrin H. Preller

Neurobehavioural signatures in race car driving: a case study

• Ines Rito Lima
• Shlomi Haar
• A. Aldo Faisal

Measurement of excitation-inhibition ratio in autism spectrum disorder using critical brain dynamics

• Hilgo Bruining
• Richard Hardstone
• Klaus Linkenkaer-Hansen

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors induce autophagy and have a protective effect in an in-vitro ischaemia model

• Ayesha Singh
• James W. Wilson

Brian2GeNN: accelerating spiking neural network simulations with graphics hardware

• Marcel Stimberg
• Dan F. M. Goodman
• Thomas Nowotny

Toward neuroprosthetic real-time communication from in silico to biological neuronal network via patterned optogenetic stimulation

• Yossi Mosbacher
• Farad Khoyratee
• Paolo Bonifazi

APOE4 is Associated with Differential Regional Vulnerability to Bioenergetic Deficits in Aged APOE Mice

• Estela Area-Gomez
• Delfina Larrea

GHz Ultrasonic Chip-Scale Device Induces Ion Channel Stimulation in Human Neural Cells

• Priya S. Balasubramanian
• Ankur Singh

Endogenous opioids facilitate intrinsically-rewarded birdsong

• Sharon A. Stevenson
• Alice Piepenburg
• Lauren V. Riters

An Embodied Perspective as a Victim of Sexual Harassment in Virtual Reality Reduces Action Conformity in a Later Milgram Obedience Scenario

• Solène Neyret
• Xavi Navarro

Effect of acute physical exercise on motor sequence memory

• Blanca Marin Bosch
• Aurélien Bringard
• Kinga Igloi

Gaze-in-wild: A dataset for studying eye and head coordination in everyday activities

• Rakshit Kothari
• Zhizhuo Yang
• Gabriel J. Diaz

Decoding of Pain Perception using EEG Signals for a Real-Time Reflex System in Prostheses: A Case Study

• Gordon Cheng

Instability Resistance Training improves Working Memory, Processing Speed and Response Inhibition in Healthy Older Adults: A Double-Blinded Randomised Controlled Trial

• Nils Eckardt
• Claudia Braun
• Armin Kibele

Prediction accuracy of L- and M-cone based human pupil light models

• Babak Zandi
• Julian Klabes
• Tran Quoc Khanh

Comparison of different input modalities and network structures for deep learning-based seizure detection

• Kyung-Ok Cho
• Hyun-Jong Jang

Acute increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor in plasma following physical exercise relates to subsequent learning in older adults

• Örjan Ekblom

Stereotactic Cortical Atlas of the Domestic Canine Brain

• Philippa J. Johnson
• Wen-Ming Luh
• Erica F. Barry

Physiological and Behavioral Synchrony Predict Group Cohesion and Performance

• Ilanit Gordon
• Shahar Siegman

Genome-Wide Association Study of Brain Connectivity Changes for Alzheimer’s Disease

• Samar S. M. Elsheikh
• Emile R. Chimusa
• Alessandro Crimi

Lithium for schizophrenia: supporting evidence from a 12-year, nationwide health insurance database and from Akt1-deficient mouse and cellular models

• Da-Zhong Luo
• Chia-Yuan Chang
• Wen-Sung Lai

Nanocatalytic activity of clean-surfaced, faceted nanocrystalline gold enhances remyelination in animal models of multiple sclerosis

• Andrew P. Robinson
• Joanne Zhongyan Zhang
• Stephen D. Miller

On brain atlas choice and automatic segmentation methods: a comparison of MAPER & FreeSurfer using three atlas databases

• Siti Nurbaya Yaakub
• Rolf A. Heckemann
• Alexander Hammers

Multicellular 3D Neurovascular Unit Model for Assessing Hypoxia and Neuroinflammation Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction

• Goodwell Nzou
• Robert T. Wicks
• Anthony J. Atala

Neurocognitive mechanisms underlying working memory encoding and retrieval in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

• Rodrigo Ortega
• Vladimir López
• Francisco Aboitiz

Brain mechanisms in motor control during reaching movements: Transition of functional connectivity according to movement states

• Hong Gi Yeom
• June Sic Kim
• Chun Kee Chung

Rethinking Measures of Functional Connectivity via Feature Extraction

• Rosaleena Mohanty
• William A. Sethares
• Vivek Prabhakaran

An empirical comparison of neural networks and machine learning algorithms for EEG gait decoding

• Sho Nakagome
• Trieu Phat Luu
• Jose L. Contreras-Vidal

Bacterial DNA promotes Tau aggregation

• George Tetz
• Michelle Pinho
• Victor Tetz

Temporal association between zolpidem medication and the risk of suicide: A 12-year population-based, retrospective cohort study

• Chul-Hyun Cho
• Hee-Jung Jee
• Heon-Jeong Lee

The power of children’s sleep - Improved declarative memory consolidation in children compared with adults

• Anna Peiffer
• Maud Brichet
• Charline Urbain

Nicotinamide riboside supplementation corrects deficits in oxytocin, sociability and anxiety of CD157 mutants in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder

• Maria Gerasimenko
• Stanislav M. Cherepanov
• Haruhiro Higashida

Hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction and psychiatric-relevant behavioral deficits in spinocerebellar ataxia 1 mouse model

• Filip Tichanek
• Martina Salomova
• Jan Cendelin

Controlling the behaviour of Drosophila melanogaster via smartphone optogenetics

• Ilenia Meloni
• Divya Sachidanandan
• Caroline Murawski

Physical presence of spouse enhances brain-to-brain synchrony in co-parenting couples

• Atiqah Azhari
• Gianluca Esposito

Interactions of impulsivity, general executive functions, and specific inhibitory control explain symptoms of social-networks-use disorder: An experimental study

• Elisa Wegmann
• Silke M. Müller
• Matthias Brand

Accelerated neuronal and synaptic maturation by BrainPhys medium increases Aβ secretion and alters Aβ peptide ratios from iPSC-derived cortical neurons

• Tugce Munise Satir
• Faisal Hayat Nazir
• Petra Bergström

Serum Metabolic Profiles of the Tryptophan-Kynurenine Pathway in the high risk subjects of major depressive disorder

• Masashi Sakurai
• Yasuko Yamamoto
• Kuniaki Saito

Action representation in the mouse parieto-frontal network

• Tuce Tombaz
• Benjamin A. Dunn
• Jonathan R. Whitlock

Female mouse tears contain an anti-aggression pheromone

• Rosa Maria Cavaliere
• Lucia Silvotti
• Roberto Tirindelli

Habitual use of GPS negatively impacts spatial memory during self-guided navigation

• Louisa Dahmani
• Véronique D. Bohbot

Walking characteristics including mild motor paralysis and slow walking speed in post-stroke patients

• Naomichi Mizuta
• Naruhito Hasui
• Shu Morioka

Modulating dream experience: Noninvasive brain stimulation over the sensorimotor cortex reduces dream movement

• Valdas Noreika
• Jennifer M. Windt
• Bigna Lenggenhager

Parkinson patients without tremor show changed patterns of mechanical muscle oscillations during a specific bilateral motor task compared to controls

• Laura V. Schaefer
• Frank N. Bittmann

The expression level of alpha-synuclein in different neuronal populations is the primary determinant of its prion-like seeding

• Josquin Courte
• Luc Bousset
• Jean-Michel Peyrin

Touching the social robot PARO reduces pain perception and salivary oxytocin levels

• Florina Uzefovsky
• Shelly Levy-Tzedek

The anterior and medial thalamic nuclei and the human limbic system: tracing the structural connectivity using diffusion-weighted imaging

• Wolfgang Grodd
• Vinod Jangir Kumar
• Klaus Scheffler

Locating neural transfer effects of n -back training on the central executive: a longitudinal fMRI study

• Anna Miró-Padilla
• Elisenda Bueichekú
• César Ávila

Real-time Inference and Detection of Disruptive EEG Networks for Epileptic Seizures

• Walter Bomela

α-synuclein inclusions are abundant in non-neuronal cells in the anterior olfactory nucleus of the Parkinson’s disease olfactory bulb

• Taylor J. Stevenson
• Helen C. Murray
• Maurice A. Curtis

Bifidobacteria shape host neural circuits during postnatal development by promoting synapse formation and microglial function

• Berkley Luck
• Melinda A. Engevik
• James Versalovic

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Undergraduate Neuroscience Research and Thesis Neuro Research Guide

Neuro research guide, guide to choosing a neuroscience research lab, part 1: what factors to consider when joining a lab..

There are hundreds of Harvard affiliated labs, and all of them are different. Below, we have distilled those differences into several important categories to consider as you make your choice. The overarching goal is to help you choose a lab that will foster your development as a scientist.

Research Topic. Students often feel that the research topic is the decisive factor. For example, you may have a topic that you are already passionate about ( e.g., Alzheimer’s Disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, or Free Will). While this pre-existing interest can be a great motivator, consider the following: over three semesters and one summer, you will spend > 750 hours in the lab! For that much time, we think the priority should be finding a great lab environment with supportive mentors.

• False! A topic isn’t usually exciting until you learn more about it. We find that once students realize what questions are being asked, what the debates are in this area, and what real-world implications the topic has, what methods are being used/developed, they quickly become passionate about their work.
• False! Medical and graduate schools are evaluating your lab experiences in two major ways: First, they want evidence of your scientific development in the lab, including your independence in designing experiments/analyzing data and your understanding of your research topic. Second, they want to see an authentic, personalized, positive letter from your faculty mentor detailing your drive, independence, attention to detail, collegiality, etc .

Size of the lab. The size of the lab is not always, but very often, a predictor of student success. Higher visibility labs tend to be big (>20 people). Although they are publishing great papers, the environment may not be ideal for undergrads. Why? In bigger labs, it is harder to get face time with the faculty mentor. Moreover, each daily supervisor (post doc or grad student) may have several undergraduates working with them or be consumed with their own work. Students can feel lost when they do not get enough mentoring and attention. Another peril of working for ‘rockstar’ faculty is that projects may be aiming for publication in Nature, Science, or Cell, which can take more than 5 years of full-time teamwork … when things go right. As such, students are often a small part of a bigger, longer project (a ‘cog in the machine’). Their role is often more of a technical one with less control, thought, or creativity in the experimental design and therefore less scientific development and growth.

In spite of the drawbacks, some students prefer to work on high visibility projects in big labs. That is fine but be aware that these projects can lead to lower thesis evaluation grades because faculty evaluators look for evidence that the student has put independent thought and individual work into the thesis.

Independence and Project Type. It is daunting to be responsible for your own research project’s success or failure, especially when you are just starting out in science. Yet, this really is the best way to learn how to do science. Having to make decisions about what experiment to do or how to analyze your work requires a deep understanding of your research area. Large, team projects can be fun, but students often grow and learn more from small projects where they can make decisions.

Typically, projects that are small in scope (short term) work best, so you can learn from your mistakes and get feedback on your results within weeks to reconfigure if need be. Working more independently on a project also gives you more control of your data, rather than being handed data from someone else and not having any influence on how or why the experiments were done.

Mentoring. Arguably the most important aspect of your lab experience is your direct mentor. Try to meet your direct mentor before signing up with a lab. You want to make sure that they are invested in your success: meaning, 1) they has time to meet with your regularly, they have reasonable demands on your time (15 hours or less per week during the term), and they can communicate clearly with you.

Whatever lab you’re in, be sure to schedule face time with the faculty mentor (alone or with your daily supervisor) at least once per month. This will help you forge a connection to the lab head and be part of conversations that can influence your study design and color the interpretation of your results. You should also make an effort to attend lab meeting to learn about other projects and develop your critical thinking/questioning skills.

Commute/ Location. It might seem harrowing, but commuting to a lab is very possible. The free M2 shuttle can get you to the Longwood/hospital area in about 30 minutes (outside of rush hour times and extreme weather). The MBTA can get you to MGH, MIT, Broad Institute just as quickly. As long as you can arrange your schedule to have big blocks of consecutive lab time (3 hours), the commute will only be a fraction of your dedicated lab time.

The good news, if you don’t want to commute, is that labs closer to Cambridge typically have more experience working with undergrads. This often translates into a better mentoring culture for students. All things being equal, we recommend you start looking for a lab on campus (Biolabs, NW Building, William James). If you don’t find a good fit there, consider labs at the Medical School that are affiliated with the Program for Neuroscience . If you still aren’t satisfied, you can extend your search to other Harvard-affiliated hospitals or centers (MGH, Children’s Hospital, Beth Israel, Brigham and Women’s, McLean, etc .)

Part 2: Questions to ask before joining a lab.

Here is a list of potential questions to ask the lab director when you meet to talk about joining a lab:

• Typically, students meet with the faculty mentor two or three times per semester. Its great if it is more frequently, but it should not be less.
• Typically, students work with a grad student or a post-doc. They often meet every time the student comes to lab (at least at the beginning) and communicate informally by email. Since they play a big role in mentoring you, it is always a good idea to meet them before joining.
• Student projects are most rewarding when students are involved in experimental design and all aspects of data analysis. It gives the student more ownership and control of the project, which very often creates a better environment to learn to do science.
• Longer term experiments (more than a year) are usually team-projects where students don’t have much influence or control of the project.
• While every student is different, other undergrads in the lab can usually tell you what kind of experience to expect. (Laura and Ryan can give you feedback on labs students have worked in as well in case you want an additional opinion.)
• Lab meetings can be a great way to assess the group dynamics and lab culture to make sure it feels like a comfortable and stimulating environment for you.
• Typically, students should expect to spend 5-10 hrs/week if they are volunteering in the lab during the semester, or 10-15 hrs/week if they are enrolled in research for credit (Neuro 91). Most labs expect students spend one summer working full-time in the lab (often before senior year) if they are serious about a thesis or a career in research after graduation.
• This varies by lab: sometimes students will choose among several options. Sometimes there might only be one project that needs additional help (or has an available mentor). Occasionally, faculty mentors want students to develop their own project idea! You just don’t know until you ask.

Brain 'assembloids' mimic human blood-brain barrier

In a pioneering achievement, a research team led by experts at Cincinnati Children's have developed the world's first human mini-brain that incorporates a fully functional blood-brain barrier (BBB).

This major advance, published May 15, 2024, in Cell Stem Cell , promises to accelerate the understanding and improved treatment of a wide range of brain disorders, including stroke, cerebral vascular disorders, brain cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington disease, Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions.

"Lack of an authentic human BBB model has been a major hurdle in studying neurological diseases," says lead corresponding author Ziyuan Guo, PhD, "Our breakthrough involves the generation of human BBB organoids from human pluripotent stem cells, mimicking human neurovascular development to produce a faithful representation of the barrier in growing, functioning brain tissue. This is an important advance because animal models we currently use in research do not accurately reflect human brain development and BBB functionality."

What is the blood-brain barrier?

Unlike the rest of our bodies, blood vessels in the brain feature an extra lining of tightly packed cells that sharply limit the size of molecules that can pass from the bloodstream into the central nervous system (CNS).

A properly functioning barrier maintains brain health by preventing the entry of harmful substances while allowing essential nutrients to reach the brain. However, that same barrier also prevents many potentially helpful medicines from reaching the brain. Also, several neurological disorders are caused, or worsened, when the blood-brain barrier forms improperly or begins breaking down.

Significant differences between human and animal brains have resulted in many hopeful new drugs that were developed relying heavily on animal models to fail later when tested in human study participants.

"Now, through stem cell bioengineering, we have developed an innovative platform based on human stem cells that allows us to study the intricate mechanisms governing BBB function and dysfunction. This provides unprecedented opportunities for drug discovery and therapeutic intervention," Guo says.

Overcoming a long-running challenge

Research teams worldwide have been racing to develop brain organoids -- tiny, growing 3D structures that mimic the early steps of brain formation. Unlike cell types grown flat in a lab dish, organoid cells are connected. They self-assemble into spherical forms. Their cells "talk" to each other like human cells normally do during fetal development.

Cincinnati Children's has been a leader in developing other types of organoids, including the world's first functional intestine, stomach and esophagus organoids. But until now, no research center had succeeded at making a brain organoid that features the special barrier lining found in human brain blood vessels.

The research team calls their new model "BBB assembloids." Their name reflects the advance that made the breakthrough possible. These assembloids combine two distinct types of organoids: brain organoids that replicate human brain tissue and blood vessel organoids that mimic vascular structures.

The combination process began with brain organoids measuring 3 to 4 millimeters in diameter and blood vessel organoids about 1 millimeter in diameter. Over the course of about a month, these separate structures fused into a single sphere measuring slightly more than 4 millimeters in diameter (about 1/8 of an inch, or roughly the size of a sesame seed).

These integrated organoids recreate many of the complex neurovascular interactions observed in the human brain, but they are not complete models of the brain. For example, the tissue does not contain immune cells and there are no connections to the rest of the body's nervous system.

Research teams at Cincinnati Children's have shown other successes at merging and layering organoids from different cell types to form more complex "next generation" organoids. Those successes helped inform the new brain organoid work.

Importantly, the BBB assembloids can be grown using neurotypical human stem cells or stem cells from people with specific brain diseases, thus reflecting gene variants and other conditions that can lead to a malfunctioning blood-brain barrier.

Initial proof of concept

To demonstrate the potential utility of the new assembloids, the researcher team used a line of patient-derived stem cells to make assembloids that accurately replicated key features of a rare brain condition called a cerebral cavernous malformation.

This genetic disorder, which is characterized by dysfunctional blood-brain barrier integrity, results in clusters of abnormal blood vessels in the brain that often resemble raspberries in their appearance. The disorder significantly increases risk of stroke.

"Our model accurately recapitulated the disease phenotype, offering new insights into the underlying molecular and cellular pathology of cerebral vascular disorders," Guo says.

Potential applications

The co-authors envision a variety of potential uses of BBB assembloids:

• Personalized Drug Screening: Patient-derived BBB assembloids could serve as avatars to tailor therapies for patients based on their unique genetic and molecular profiles.
• Disease Modeling: A number of neurovascular disorders, including rare and genetically complex conditions, lack good model systems for research. Success at making BBB assembloids could accelerate development of human brain tissue models for more conditions.
• High-Throughput Drug Discovery: Scaling up assembloid production could allow more accurate, and more rapid analysis of whether potential brain medications can effectively cross the BBB.
• Environmental Toxin Testing: Often based heavily on animal model systems, BBB assembloids could help evaluate the toxic effects of environmental pollutants, pharmaceuticals, and other chemical compounds.
• Immunotherapy Development: Through investigating the role of the BBB in neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, the new assembloids could support delivering immune-based therapies to the brain.
• Bioengineering and Biomaterials Research: Biomedical engineers and materials scientists will likely benefit from having a lab model of the BBB to test novel biomaterials, drug delivery vehicles, and tissue engineering strategies.

"Overall, BBB assembloids represent a game-changing technology with broad implications for neuroscience, drug discovery, and personalized medicine," Guo says.

About the study

In addition to Guo, the co-first authors of the study were: Lan Dao, MS, and Lu Lu, PhD, from Cincinnati Children's; Tianyang Xu from UC San Diego; and Zhen You from the Mayo Clinic. Co-corresponding authors were Sheng Zhong, PhD, from UC San Diego and L. Frank Huang, PhD, from the Mayo Clinic.

Co-authors from Cincinnati Children's also included Avijite Kumer Sarkar, PhD, Hui Zhu, PhD, George Yoshida, BA, Yifei Miao, PhD, Sarah Mierke, MD, Srijan Kalva, Mingxia Gu, MD, PhD, and Sudhakar Vadivelu, MD. The Single Cell Genomics Facility at Cincinnati Children's and the NIH NeuroBioBank also provided key support to the research.

Guo and Dao have a pending patent application ("Vascularized brain organoids having a CCM-like feature and methods of making and use," U.S. Application no. 63/510,463) related to this research. Zhong is a founder of Genemo, Inc.

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Materials provided by Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Lan Dao, Zhen You, Lu Lu, Tianyang Xu, Avijite Kumer Sarkar, Hui Zhu, Miao Liu, Riccardo Calandrelli, George Yoshida, Pei Lin, Yifei Miao, Sarah Mierke, Srijan Kalva, Haining Zhu, Mingxia Gu, Sudhakar Vadivelu, Sheng Zhong, L. Frank Huang, Ziyuan Guo. Modeling blood-brain barrier formation and cerebral cavernous malformations in human PSC-derived organoids . Cell Stem Cell , 2024; DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.04.019

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Motivated by lack of diversity in neurological studies, scientists look to ensure equity in brain research

by Lieber Institute for Brain Development

Scientists seeking to counter the neglect of African Americans in neuroscience research have found evidence that genetic ancestry is responsible for the increased prevalence of certain neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke, and decreased prevalence of others, including Parkinson's disease, in Black Americans, according to new research published May 20 as the June cover story in the journal Nature Neuroscience .

In contrast, the scientists from the Lieber Institute for Brain Development did not find evidence that genetic ancestry is responsible for differences in the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and behavioral traits, such as schizophrenia and depression, across populations of European or African ancestry. Instead, those differences may be driven by variation in environmental exposures.

The study, the first to broadly explore specifically how African ancestry influences gene function in the human brain , is the first research to emerge from the African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative. The initiative, known as AANRI, is a collaboration between the Lieber Institute—located on the Johns Hopkins medical campus in Baltimore—as well as African American community leaders from the city and Morgan State University, a public historically Black university also located in Baltimore.

"This landmark work enriches our understanding of the role of genetic ancestry in the brain, opens new avenues for the development of ancestry-aware therapeutics and paves the way for more equitable personalized medicine," says Daniel Weinberger, M.D., Director and CEO of the Lieber Institute and senior author on the study.

The research notes that people of African ancestry account for less than 5% of data used in large-scale brain disorder research but are 20% more likely to experience a major mental health crisis, and up to twice as likely to manifest Alzheimer's disease.

Lieber Institute scientists, including lead author and LIBD Associate Scientist Kynon Jade Benjamin, Ph.D., measured the genes present in over 425 brain samples from African American individuals, all medically healthy people. In addition, they focused on how the environment might impact the regulation of genes in the brain, a field of study called epigenetics.

The scientists found that about 15% of the variation in gene expression in the brain was based on environmental differences in people of African ancestry.

"We inherit from our parents our DNA, the sequence of our genes, and they inherit their DNA from their parents, who got it from theirs, and so forth and so on," says Dr. Weinberger. "Our genomes are the fingerprints of our near and distant ancestors who have contributed over time and generations various pieces of what becomes our individual genomes."

Lieber Institute researchers identified more than 2,500 genes in the brains of individuals of African ancestry with significant differences in expression related to the proportion of each individual's degree of African versus European ancestry. People of African descent are, in general, of mixed ancestry, with a range of about 0-60% European ancestry.

The scientists were able to explore how much this ancestral variation within each brain predicted corresponding variation in gene abundance. The results showed that ancestry-informed genes were especially important in non-neuronal cells, particularly immune and vascular tissue cells.

This research confirms previous mechanisms that have been observed in the importance of vasculature in stroke. In fact, over 25% of the genetically determined probability of a stroke could be predicted by genes in vascular cells based on African ancestry proportion.

Even more strikingly, the scientists confirmed the importance of immune cells in liability for Alzheimer's disease, with 30% of the genetic probability of this illness predictable by genes in immune cells based on African ancestry proportion in each brain.

The scientists also found differences that posed an advantage to people of African ancestry—for example, the brains from people of African ancestry showed a decrease in the expression of genes related to risk of Parkinson's disease. This confirms public health data that shows lower rates of Parkinson's disease in people of African ancestry.

The findings mean that scientists exploring new therapies to treat neurologic illness should consider targeting both neuronal and non-neuronal cells, such as immune and vascular tissue cells.

People of African ancestry are chronically neglected in studies that are driving the search for new treatments and cures by revealing genetic factors that influence disease. The Lieber Institute for Brain Development uses genomics and other advanced scientific techniques to learn more about the roots of brain disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD and autism.

More than 81% of large-scale genomic datasets used in this type of research come from people of European descent, though those of European background make up less than 16% of the world population. Human beings are more than 99% genetically identical. That less than 1% accounts for all human diversity on earth—and that's the focus of AANRI, says Dr. Weinberger.

The Lieber Institute is home to the largest collection of postmortem brains for the study of neurodevelopmental disorders in the world. Each of the Institute's more than 4,300 brains was donated by a recently bereaved family member through a rigorous informed consent process. Lieber Institute scientists used about 425 brain samples from the collection, each from a person of African ancestry who was medically healthy, for the Nature Neuroscience study.

Medications are important interventions for brain disorders, but findings such as these highlight the need for policies that address social determinants of health such as pollution, access to nutritious food, high-quality health care and education, says Kafui Dzirasa, M.D., Ph.D., an Advisor to the African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative, a Professor at Duke University School of Medicine and a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator.

"As we learn about brain function, and think how to better protect against the environment, some of the best things that we should be out there advocating for are policy changes," says Dr. Dzirasa.

The findings in the study also confirm the importance of programs like AANRI that work toward more diversity in medicine, says Dr. Alvin C. Hathaway Sr., Co-Founder of AANRI and retired pastor of the historic Union Baptist Church in Baltimore.

In its first four years, AANRI has brought students from Morgan State University to the Lieber Institute to prepare them for careers in neuroscience. It has established Lieber Institute scientists as faculty at Morgan State to support new neuroscience and biology courses at the historically Black university.

The Initiative's first research paper is a critical step toward a more equitable field of neuroscience, says Dr. Hathaway.

"I'm deeply embedded in the African Ancestry Neuroscience Research Initiative because I can see glimmers of hope," he says. "I see that we really can accelerate research for people of color. We can help scientists understand what it means to be culturally sensitive to a community."

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