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Medical neuroscience is a specialized field that studies the brain and nervous system, including their chemistry, pathology, physiology, and anatomy. It encompasses clinical disciplines such as neurology, neurobiology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, as well as academic and research sectors. The field is important because the brain controls all activity within the body, and early diagnosis can prevent disability. Education requirements vary, but usually involve medical school or degrees in neurobiology or pharmacy.
Medical neuroscience is a highly specialized area of the medical field that focuses on the brain and nervous system. It is often thought of as a science that studies brain function, but its scope extends far beyond that area. In fact, medical neuroscience encompasses all aspects of the nervous system, nerves, and nerve cells, both healthy and diseased. It includes the chemistry, pathology, physiology and anatomy of nerve cells, as well as the psychological and behavioral elements involved in the roles of the nervous system. Many of the best-known professionals in this field are physicians and surgeons, but academics, researchers, and drug manufacturers are also very prominent. The brain and nervous system are very complex, and as a result getting started in this field often requires a lot of training as well as an almost constant commitment to education, formal and informal, to stay up to date.
Clinical disciplines
There are several clinical disciplines that fall within the rather broad parameters of the field. Neurology, neurobiology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry are three of the most common disciplines, but things like cognitive neuroscience and neuropathology are also of great significance. People with clinical experience in these disciplines are usually active doctors who help diagnose and treat people with brain chemistry disorders or nervous system problems. They tend to work in specialized clinics or hospitals.
Academic and research sector
Experience in this field doesn’t necessarily lead to a career in medicine, however, at least not when it comes to direct patient care. Neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and neurobiologists often spend most of their time researching the origins of neurological problems, and they may also spend time trying to formulate cures or treatments. Much of this work is experimental and tends to take place in laboratories and research centres. Patients can be viewed in the context of test cases, but person-to-person interaction is usually not the goal behind this type of work. To some extent, however, research and publication on advances in the field is one of the ways current practitioners stay current and are able to provide good care, so the two subsets can be seen to go hand in hand.
There are also a number of academic outlets for this type of knowledge. Most of these involve teaching, typically at the undergraduate level and in graduate seminars, as well as publication in academic journals. Most people who choose the academic route have already had distinct careers in neuroscience that they continue, often teaching as an assistant or guest lecturer, or leave altogether, either through retirement or a career change. The experience of these professionals is often seen as essential in training the next generation of industry leaders.
Great importance
One of the main reasons this field is so important is because the brain is the hub for all activity within the body. Operating on electrical impulses, the brain is very powerful and has a great influence on the body. The nervous system controls all involuntary functions within the body, including breathing, keeping the heart beating, and digestion. Also, monitor every movement, every thought, and every sensation your body experiences. Understanding how these processes work helps experts keep patients healthy and can also alert them to small signs that something is going wrong. In many cases, early diagnosis can mean the difference between a long, functional life and one that is hampered by disability or reduced function.
Training and education required
The educational requirements for work in this field typically vary depending on the precise discipline one enters. Physicians are usually required to attend medical school, including neuroscience residencies and internships; surgeons typically also have to spend more time studying general and specialty surgical procedures. The total post-secondary education time for this type of career can range from 8 to 15 years.
People who are more interested in the research side usually don’t have to complete medical training, even though it is usually beneficial. Many universities offer degrees in fields such as neurobiology, and pharmacy schools sometimes also provide training “pathways” or specialization programs for people interested in the brain and nervous system. The field is broad enough to usually allow for a lot of flexibility when it comes to formal training, but also technical enough that lots of education is almost always essential.
