Neuroscience

Cross-Disciplinary Approaches for Studying Brain Diseases

Several diverse approaches for studying the brain have been developed that emphasize different levels of analysis. Molecular and cellular neuroscience emphasizes how the machinery within a cell operates. The results of these research areas have given an appreciation of the complexity of cell structure and function. However, cells within the brain do not act in isolation but rather communicate with each other. Systems neuroscience emphasizes how groups of brain cells interact with other groups of brain cells. This area can yield insights about how one group of brain cells can cooperate (or not) to affect activity in other groups of brain cells. This area has benefited from approaches using computational neuroscience, in which mathematics is used to try to describe how a group of neurons could function to mediate some aspect of processing. Computational neuroscience can yield plausible hypotheses that can then be tested with laboratory-based methodologies.

Neuroanatomical approaches are used to identify specific brain regions and to describe the nature of connections between different brain regions. Understanding how the brain is “wired” is important for testing hypotheses about which brain regions influence each other. Neuropharmacological approaches emphasize studying how drugs affect the brain. Behavioral neuroscientists study the brain mechanisms underlying a range of behaviors, including remembering, feeding, or defensive behaviors. These general research areas are indicative of the diversity of approaches for studying [Page 725]the brain, but are not by any means exhaustive. Despite increased understanding of brain function using each of these approaches, it has become clear that, to fully understand phenomena related to the brain, multiple levels of analysis need to be implemented. For example, if somebody is interested in the effects of a particular drug, one may study the effects of that drug on the brain itself. Does the drug change the activity of proteins within the cell? Does the drug alter interactions between cells? If so, which cells? Researchers also want to know about the effects of the drug on cognitive processes such as attention and memory as well as changes in behavior. The ultimate goal is to be able to assess exactly which changes in the brain contribute to changes in cognition and behavior. Thus, although there are a number of subdisciplines that emphasize different aspects of brain functioning, a complete understanding of complex phenomena requires cross-fertilization between different approaches within neuroscience.

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