BSc. Neuroscience (CK402)
“There is no scientific study more vital to man than the
study of his own brain.
Our entire view of the universe depends on it.”
- Francis Crick (co-discoverer of DNA)
What is Neuroscience?
Neuroscience is the study of the
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ie. Brain, spinal cord and
all nerves of the body
We study it from all aspects –
the tiny (eg. DNA/genes)…..
….. to the large
(eg. thought, consciousness)
Why study Neuroscience?
The brain is the most complex living
structure in the universe.
We each have 100,000,000,000
(ie. 100 billion) nerve cells in our brain.
These are called ‘neurons’.
They make 100 trillion connections (‘synapses’).
Why study Neuroscience?
The nervous system controls everything we do……. eg.
movement, pain, sleep, appetite, memory, vision, hearing,
thoughts, intelligence…..
Current knowledge is only the “tip of the iceberg”….
For example, we do not understand the biological basis of
vision
motivation
emotion
decision-making
perception
memory
We do not know enough about the nervous system to allow
us to repair it when it is damaged by injury or disease.
Why study Neuroscience?
What is consciousness? What do we mean by it?
Are animals conscious?
What is a mind? What makes us individual?
How does our brain create feelings of love, joy, hope and
disappointment?
You & Me
Homer
What do Neuroscientists study ?
We study the development of the brain, from the embryo,
childhood, throughout adolescence, adulthood, and aging.
What do Neuroscientists study ?
Recent research shows that the ‘reward
centre’ of the brain is still being finetuned during adolescence, which makes
the teenage brain more vulnerable to
drugs, alcohol, gambling, risk-taking....
What do Neuroscientists study ?
We study brain and nerve injury
We study neurodegenerative diseases, which are caused by
the death of nerve cells (eg. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s,
multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease)
We study schizophrenia, depression, addiction, epilepsy
– as well as current and new treatments for all of these……..
The incidence of Brain
Diseases is increasing.
Normal Brain
Alzheimer’s Brain
In 2004, CNS
disorders cost ~ €386
billion in the EU alone
BSc. Neuroscience - Location
Westen Gateway Building, UCC
Biosciences Institute, UCC
• Flagship degree program of the
Dept. of Anatomy & Neuroscience
• Established in 1998; first BSc in Neuroscience in Ireland
• Controlled student numbers;
excellent teaching by strongly-active researchers
BSc. Neuroscience
Anatomy
Psychology
Biochemistry
Pharmacology
Research
Physiology
3rd Science modules
Human Embryology
& Developmental
Biology
Human
Nervous
System
Neurobiology
of Regulatory
Systems
Human
Regional
Neuroanatomy
Pharmacology
Biochemistry
Neurobiology
of Disease
Library project
Research Methodology
in Neuroscience
4th Science modules
Laboratory
Research project
Advanced Research
Methodology
in Neuroscience
Neuropharmacology
Medical Imaging
and Biomedical
Devices in
Neuroscience
Behavioural
and Cognitive
Neuroscience
Advanced
Topics in
Neuroscience
Developmental
Neurobiology
Biochemistry of
Brain Disorders
So I have a BSc. in Neuroscience ……now what?
• Stay In University?! – MSc and/or PhD
• Research – University, hospital, industry.
• Medicine – Ideal entry point to Graduate-Entry Medicine
• Allied Health profession – Physiotherapy, Radiotherapy,
Speech therapy, Occupational therapy, Radiography etc
• Teaching – School, Institutes of Technology, University
• Pharmaceutical / Biomedical / Biotechnology Industry
- Sales & marketing
- Clinical Trials
- Research
• Scientific journalism and publishing, websites, blogs
etc
• Advisory / Consultation work (EU, UN, WHO etc).
…..and countless other options……!!!
Useful Neuroscience Websites
• www. ucc.ie/en/anatomy/studyneuroscience
• www.neuroscienceireland.org
• www.bna.org
(British Neuroscience Association)
• www.ibro.info
(International Brain Research Organisation)
• www.sfn.org
(Society for Neuroscience)
BSc. Neuroscience – Further Information
http://www.ucc.ie/en/anatomy/studyneuroscience/
“Brain science will be to the 21st century what quantum
physics and DNA molecular biology were to the 20th
century”
Contact details:
Professor Aideen Sullivan
Director
BSc Neuroscience degree
Dept. of Anatomy & Neuroscience,
Western Gateway Building,
University College Cork.
Phone:
Email:
021 420 5427
a.sullivan@ucc.ie
http://www.ucc.ie/en/anatomy/studyneuroscience/