Neurobiologist

Neurobiology is the study of the nervous system, with a particular focus on the brain and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions. It is a branch of biology that deals with the anatomy, physiology, molecular biology of neurons and neural circuits and especially their association with behavior and learning.

History

The history of neurobiology can be traced back to ancient Egypt. The first known written record of a study of the anatomy of the human brain is the ancient Egyptian document the Edwin Smith Papyrus. The next major development in neurobiology came from the Greek philosopher Alcmaeon, who proposed that the brain, not the heart, was the organ responsible for intelligence.

Modern Neurobiology

Modern neurobiology can be traced back to the work of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, who, with his histological work, laid the groundwork for the Neuron Doctrine, the theory that the neuron is the basic unit of the nervous system.

Branches of Neurobiology

Neurobiology can be broken down into a number of branches including:

• Developmental Neurobiology: The study of how neurons form and develop.
• Molecular Neurobiology: The study of the role of molecules in the nervous system.
• Cellular Neurobiology: The study of neurons at a cellular level.
• Systems Neurobiology: The study of how neurons function together to form complex networks.
• Cognitive Neurobiology: The study of how the brain creates the mind.
• Computational Neurobiology: The study of how to model the nervous system.

Notable Neurobiologists

There have been many notable neurobiologists throughout history, including:

• Santiago Ramón y Cajal: Known as the father of modern neuroscience.
• Eric Kandel: Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his research on the physiological basis of memory storage in neurons.
• Rita Levi-Montalcini: Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her discovery of nerve growth factor.

See Also

• Neuroscience
• Neurophysiology
• Neurochemistry
• Neuropharmacology
• Neuroendocrinology

References

Neurobiologist Resources
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