research paper topics on neurobiology

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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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.

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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.

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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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Driving biomedical projects, collaborations, symbiont bacteria, molecular motors, neurons and synapses, bioenergetic membranes, nanosensors, mechanosensing, protein folding, integrative modeling, more topics, ongoing projects, all research projects, research topics - neurobiology.

Movement of higher biological organisms is the result of information processing in a complex hierarchy of motor centers within the nervous system. To date, there is still no general consensus about how biological neural networks actually generate voluntary movement. Neurophysiological studies, on one side, provide the essential data on which a top down modelling approach can be based.

All Spotlights

Noise-induced neuronal oscillations. Christian Kurrer and Klaus Schulten. Physical Review E , 51:6213-6218, 1995.

Models of orientation and ocular dominance columns in the visual cortex: A critical comparison. Edgar Erwin, Klaus Obermayer, and Klaus Schulten. Neural Computation , 7:425-468, 1995.

Topology representing network in robotics. Kakali Sarkar and Klaus Schulten. In J. Leo van Hemmen, Eytan Domany, and Klaus Schulten, editors, Models of Neural Networks , volume 3 of Physics of Neural Networks , pp. 281-302. Springer-Verlag, New York, 1996.

Topology representing networks. Thomas Martinetz and Klaus Schulten. Neural Networks , 7:507-522, 1994.

Neural network control of a pneumatic robot arm. Ted Hesselroth, Kakali Sarkar, P. Patrick van der Smagt, and Klaus Schulten. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics , 24:28-37, 1994.

Statistical-mechanical analysis of self-organization and pattern formation during the development of visual maps. Klaus Obermayer, Gary G. Blasdel, and Klaus Schulten. Physical Review A , 45:7568-7589, 1992.

Textbook: Neural Computation and Self-Organizing Maps: An Introduction . Helge Ritter, Thomas Martinetz, and Klaus Schulten. Addison-Wesley, New York, revised English edition, 1992.

"Neural gas" for vector quantization and its application to time-series prediction. Thomas M. Martinetz, Stanislav G. Berkovich, and Klaus Schulten. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks , 4:558-569, 1993.

A principle for the formation of the spatial structure of cortical feature maps. Klaus Obermayer, Helge Ritter, and Klaus Schulten. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA , 87:8345-8349, 1990.

Development of feature detectors by self-organization: A network model. Jeanne Rubner and Klaus Schulten. Biological Cybernetics , 62:193-199, 1990.

Three-dimensional neural net for learning visuo-motor coordination of a robot arm. Thomas Martinetz, Helge Ritter, and Klaus Schulten. IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks , 1:131-136, 1990.

Topology-conserving maps for learning visuo-motor-coordination. Helge Ritter, Thomas Martinetz, and Klaus Schulten. Neural Networks , 2:159-168, 1989.

Associative memory with high information content. Joachim Buhmann, Robert Divko, and Klaus Schulten. Physical Review A , 39:2689-2692, 1989.

Convergence properties of Kohonen's topology conserving maps: Fluctuations, stability and dimension selection. Helge Ritter and Klaus Schulten. Biological Cybernetics , 60:59-71, 1988.

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Neuroscience Dissertation Topics – Based on Recent Academic Research

Published by Ellie Cross at December 29th, 2022 , Revised On August 16, 2023

Are you looking for the best neuroscience dissertation topics? Here we go! Here are some intriguing neuroscience study topic suggestions that you may find helpful.

Neuroscience is a scientific field that studies the structure and function of the nervous system. On a broad scale, the topic covers numerous behavioural, computational, cellular, evolutionary, functional, molecular, and therapeutic facets of the nervous system.

Many students have trouble coming up with fascinating neuroscience research project topics. Choosing a topic for the dissertation is a crucial step in the dissertation writing process . Using brainstorming techniques, you can narrow down a large concept into a specific study area. Spend an hour brainstorming and reflecting on ideas that might make for a good project.

If you don’t have the time to brainstorm because you have been procrastinating for too long, choose one of the neuroscience topics suggested below.

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Trending Dissertation Topics For Your Neuroscience Paper

• Discuss neuroscience from an atheist’s point of view
• What are some of the fundamental ideas that guide research into the human brain?
• Describe how the theory of neuroplasticity relates to imparting new knowledge to the brain
• Describe the neuroscience of harmony, paying particular attention to how sound waves typically travel through the brain and the effects they have
• While some people are naturally gifted, others learn things over time. Examine the neuroscience of brilliance and the ways it appears
• Describe the effects of Parkinson’s disease on the brain
• The brain significantly correlates with and coordinates human sexuality. Describe the process
• How can people get hooked on substances? Describe using the example of the brain
• What role does emotion play in how individuals perceive things like music and art?
• How can chronic fatigue syndrome result from Gulf War disorder in those who have not experienced trauma?
• Why are older persons who contract infections associated with Alzheimer’s disease?
• What part does developing internal modes play in young people’s development of motor skills?
• How does physical damage cause the brain to reorganise its connections to internal organs?
• We occasionally run into completely mad people. Describe how they go mad when their brains no longer operate like regular people
• Ageing and memory are notions that operate in opposition to one another. Describe how some people can preserve their mental capacity as they age
• Investigate the neurobiology of anxiety disorders at the preclinical stage
• Love and other emotional attachments are equally shared and expressed in the brain, just like sex is. Talk about how some of these feelings develop over time
• Highlighting the pathophysiology of mental retardation, describe the fragile X condition in detail. What symptoms does this condition show?
• Compare and contrast clinical and translational neuroscience
• Describe computational neuroscience in general
• Describe the variations among the many fields of neuroscience
• How might eye movement serve as a crucial missing piece in the study of memory?
• Discuss the origins of the effects of the degenerative brain condition
• What is the connection between severe head traumas and harm to internal organs?
• How does early childhood neurodevelopment affect whether autism is present in young people?
• Nerve stimulation is thought to aid in recovering consciousness in coma patients. What’s made clear in this relationship?
• Discover the link between postpartum depression in first-time moms and brain chemistry
• What are the most recent areas of emotional brain research that concern autistic people?
• How do our brains analyse and distinguish between diverse speech patterns to recognise family members?
• What are teenagers’ mental hazards, and what does having a high IQ mean?
• How can the presence of gut bacteria in the human body impact mental health?
• What impact do drugs like marijuana and alcohol have on our bodies’ levels of dopamine?
• What mental dangers do young people confront when they play sports with high head contact rates?
• How have contentious topics in neuroscience altered the field’s environment during the past ten years?
• What effects does marijuana usage have on the brain regions where self-control is formed in adolescents?
• What strides have been achieved in creating effective remedies for emotional and mental suffering?
• What are the adverse cognitive effects associated with the long-term use of a hearing aid?
• Several “purchase” buttons in the brain using MRI to predict point-of-sale chocolate sales based on functional brain activity
• A Neuropsychological Analysis of Consumer Processing of Secure and Risky Information E-payments.
• Graphical components that foster confidence in online stores
• How product descriptions in online buying affect customer’s evidence for the attribute framing effect from event-related potentials
• With the use of nerve stimulation, we have seen coma patients come to. What justifies this connection?
• How does the frequency of autism in young individuals relate to early childhood neurodevelopment?
• How do people’s levels of stress change when memory activities are included in therapy?
• What relationship does brain chemistry have with postpartum depression in first-time mothers?
• What are recent developments in emotional brain research pertinent to those with autism?
• How can our brain discern between various speech accents to identify members of our family?
• What psychological risks do young adults who participate in contact sports face?
• How have controversial topics affected the discipline of neuroscience during the past ten years?
• Is caffeine addiction detrimental to one’s ability to work effectively?
• How does lucid dreaming assist individuals in giving up bad habits like smoking and binge eating?
• What effects does the human body’s gut flora have on emotional health
• Can drugs or medications impact one’s religious beliefs on the regions of the brain that manufacture melatonin?
• How does the hippocampal region of the brain impact imagination and future planning?
• What effects does therapy of the left or right hemispheres of the brain have on the severity of schizophrenia symptoms?

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You can create an impactful thesis paper using any of the suggestions in our list of neuroscience dissertation and thesis topics. You can also modify the preceding topics according to your academic level and country of study. Get in touch with our team if you are looking for customised neuroscience dissertation topics .

Moreover, if you have trouble completing your neuroscience study, use our dissertation writing service to achieve your desired grade. Neuroscientists on our team of experienced academic writers are experts at composing and delivering research dissertations on any neuroscience topic without plagiarism .

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How to find neuroscience dissertation topics.

To find neuroscience dissertation topics:

• Research recent advancements.
• Explore unanswered questions.
• Review neuroscience journals.
• Consider interdisciplinary angles.
• Consult professors and experts.
• Select a topic aligning with your passion and skills.

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• J Undergrad Neurosci Educ
• v.13(1); Fall 2014

Guide to Research Techniques in Neuroscience

By  Matt Carter  and  Jennifer Shieh 

“Neuroscience is the field of study that endeavors to make sense of such diverse questions…The exchange of information among a half-dozen branches of science and the clinical practice of mental health have shaped a new scientific approach to the study of the brain.” -Sandra Ackerman Discovering the Brain (1992)

As an undergraduate enrolled in my first neuroscience course, I quickly discovered the daunting array of experimental techniques subsumed under the broader neuroscience umbrella. For the experienced scientist these many methodologies allow for complex analyses of the human mind from the level of the molecule to whole organism, situating neuroscience in a unique position among disciplines. However, as an introductory student, the rapid tour we took through the varied modes of investigation used in contemporary neuroscience research in no way could prepare me for reading and fully comprehending primary research documents, much less doing so with a critical lens. Whether the seasoned researcher or first-year undergraduate, in-depth exposure and knowledge of all the techniques used within the neurosciences is seemingly impossible. To address this need, Carter and Shieh’s Guide to Research Techniques in Neuroscience functions as a primer to the design and analysis of a variety of neuroscience research techniques. Although not meant to replace the standard neuroscience textbook or techniques manual, this guide provides an excellent introduction to nearly every technique commonly used in neuroscience. In contrast to the superficial and often incorrect information encountered on a cursory search through Wikipedia or Google, topics are presented in the Guide in an approachable and succinct manner appropriate for the introductory student, yet with enough detail to please the seasoned neuroscientist in a field outside of their expertise.

Written by graduate students, this methodology resource focuses on common techniques used in neuroscience research, including what questions that technique can answer, the materials needed, and the proper controls for an experiment using its methods. In the Introduction Carter and Shieh provide a concise overview of the many levels of analysis used by the neuroscientist, from genetic analysis to whole brain imaging, while simultaneously emphasizing the common themes in scientific method and experimental design. Each chapter is structured around a specific technique or field of research (e.g., microscopy, cell culture, whole brain imaging; Table 1 ) and provides a review-like overview of these topics. Although the chapters do not necessarily follow an obvious progression (i.e., from micro to macro levels of analysis), this is not a major concern as each chapter functions as an independent unit. Hence, a reader could go through the book from cover to cover or more likely jump to the topic they need to understand. From a student’s perspective this flexibility is one of the greatest benefits of the Guide as a technique or topic can be quickly understood when encountered in a research paper or the laboratory. From an instructor’s perspective, the stand-alone nature of the text allows for a student-friendly resource related to a technique that will be discussed in class or used in the laboratory. Indeed, I have used this resource in varied aspects of my undergraduate career; in a sophomore seminar as I navigated new techniques, in a methods class as I started to apply these procedures, and now in the research laboratory as we discuss papers and ideas in laboratory meetings.

Topics covered in each chapter.

Each chapter has clear objectives delineated in “After Reading This Chapter” and “Techniques Covered” boxes located at the start of each topic. Wonderful illustrations and images clearly depict equipment needed for and underlying theory of each topic. For example, in the chapter devoted to animal behavior (Chapter 2), representative images of each behavioral assay provide a clear depiction of how the assay is performed. Furthermore, advantage and disadvantage charts, such as one comparing model species used in genetics, help a reader weigh the relative strengths and weaknesses of the described techniques as an aid to choose which one may best suit his or her needs. Although the images of materials and theory are beautiful and abundant, inclusion of more primary data and guidance on how to analyze these data would greatly improve the Guide . Often data are depicted in a cartoon or iconographical manner rather than presenting examples of data from primary literature. Despite the inclusion of “Data Analysis” subsections in some chapters, these descriptions are more often than not missing a representative graph or example image of actual data. Consequently, data analysis skills are taught in the abstract with the reader needing to imagine what these data would look like, rather than having the source readily available.

It should be noted that the Guide appropriately presents just the information necessary to understand the basics of each method; it is in no way a research protocol. In this way, the Guide functions less like a cookbook that provides the instructions for making a dish at home and more like an elegantly labeled menu that allows one to savor and critique the dish at hand. However, Carter and Shieh clearly recognized this limitation by concluding each chapter with a “Suggested Readings and References” section including books, protocols, review papers, websites, and examples from the primary research. These sources are a wonderful addition for the student interested in learning more about the topic as well as an instructor looking for additional readings to include in his or her curriculum.

Arguably the greatest benefit of Guide to Research Techniques in Neuroscience is how it compares to other options on the market. I believe the author’s put it best when speaking to how they came about writing the book, “we tried to find a book just like it, couldn’t find one anywhere, and ultimately decided the book would be so useful that we would write it ourselves.” Yes, other books provide more detailed and in-depth descriptions of specific groups of methodologies to the level of detail that a user can attempt the techniques ( Yuste and Konnerth, 2005 ; Freshney, 2010 ; or Green and Sambrook, 2012 ) and, texts such as The Design of Experiments in Neuroscience ( Harrington, 2010 ) provide better descriptions of research design in neuroscience. Yet nowhere are so many techniques included in sufficient detail that the reader is able to comprehend, design, and analyze research using those methods. This simple fact, combined with the relatively inexpensive price (∼$50), make Guide to Research Techniques in Neuroscience an invaluable tool for students and instructors alike. With the continual emergence of new and modified techniques to study the nervous system, I hope that there are many future editions of the Guide in years to come.

Acknowledgments

I thank Barbara Lom for helpful comments provided during review preparation.

• Ackerman S. Discovering the brain. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 1992. [ PubMed ] [ Google Scholar ]
• Carter M, Shieh JC. Guide to research techniques in neuroscience. Burlington, MA: Academic Press; 2009. [ Google Scholar ]
• Green MR, Sambrook J. Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor, NY: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; 2012. [ Google Scholar ]
• Harrington ME. The design of experiments in neuroscience. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc; 2011. [ Google Scholar ]
• Freshney RI. Culture of animal cells: a manual of basic technique and specialized applications. 6th edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons; 2010. [ Google Scholar ]
• Yuste R, Konnerth A. Imaging in neuroscience and development: a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor, NY: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; 2005. [ Google Scholar ]

103 Neuroscience Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best neuroscience topic ideas & essay examples, 🥇 most interesting neuroscience topics to write about, ✅ good research topics about neuroscience, ❓ neuroscience research questions.

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• The Stroop Test and Its Impact on Neuroscience The results of the Stroop test vividly demonstrate the ability of the brain to quickly process the displayed information. The Stroop effect plays a vital role in psychology and neuroscience, helping identify the responses of […]
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• Neuroscience for Kids Website Review In the proposed approach, the teacher plays the role of a moderator, which encourages the students to solve realistic problems, discover various principles, and construct their knowledge.
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• “Neuroscience of Cognitive Development” Review by Muller The second section of the article talks about the role of cognitive processes in the development of the child. From the article, it is true that human beings suffer from a number of disorders, including […]
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• Brain and Speech Production in Neuroscience The current literature review is dedicated to the mechanisms for speech production and their implications in the field of neuroscience. The authors note that the speech sound map performs three crucial functions: promoting the discrete […]
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• Neuroscience and Cognitive Approaches in Therapy Great tempos lead to an increase in the level of stress which, in turn, leads to the appearance of a great number of problems connected with the mental health of a person.
• Learning Methods Based on Neuroscience Being that both processes are affected by the changes in the environment and conditions of learning, teachers are informed of the need to create a conducive learning atmosphere to ensure high student learning and cognitive […]
• Neuroscience and Child Development – Psychology In this regard, the adoption of neuroscience findings in the development of new childhood theories and policies could lead to enhanced interventions for improved life outcomes.
• Exercise’s Role on Health – Neurology In this regard, it is important to note that, the body has three main sets of neurons, namely: the sensory, interneuron, and motor neurons.
• Consciousness-Cognitive Science vs. Neuroscience Damasio argues that neuroscience is a mother of consciousness and uses an example of neurologists and how they limit themselves to the basic definition of consciousness as a matter between the start and the end […]
• Neurology Studies: Sensory Perceptions According to Bernstein, the accuracy or inaccuracy of the sensory information is dependent on the functionality of the human senses. The accuracy of sensory information is trusted by people; for example, smelling smoke denotes the […]
• Cultural Differences in the Self: From Philosophy to Psychology to Neuroscience According to their hypothesis, the basic difference between the Western and the Chinese understanding and perception of self is that the latter consider self in the context of society, while the Western philosophers believe that […]
• How Educational Neuroscience Supports Classroom Differentiation The student tends to concentrate on the tragic events as opposed to the contents of a lesson. The importance of understanding differentiation is that the teacher is in a position to relate negative emotions to […]
• Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience There is an eminent application of scientific metaphors in describing the functioning of the human brain. There are outstanding metaphors and analogies, which are being used to explain the functioning of the human brain.
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The crystallization of memory: Study reveals how practice forms new memory pathways in the brain

A new study led by UCLA Health has shown that repetitive practice not only is helpful in improving skills but also leads to profound changes in the brain's memory pathways.

The research, published in the journal Nature and co-led by Rockefeller University, sought to unravel how the brain's ability to retain and process information, known as working memory, improves through training.

To test this, researchers tasked mice with identifying and recalling a sequence of odors over the course of two weeks. Researchers then tracked neural activity in the animals as they practiced the task by using a novel, custom-built microscope that can image cellular activity in up to 73,000 neurons simultaneously throughout the cortex.

The study revealed a transformation in the working memory circuits located in the secondary motor cortex as the mice repeated the task through time. As the mice were first learning the task, the memory representations were unstable. However, after repeatedly practicing the task, the memory patterns began to solidify or "crystalize," said corresponding author and UCLA Health neurologist Dr. Peyman Golshani.

"If one imagines that each neuron in the brain is sounding a different note, the melody that the brain is generating when it is doing the task was changing from day to day, but then became more and more refined and similar as animals kept practicing the task," Golshani said.

These changes give insights into why performance becomes more accurate and automatic following repetitive practice.

"This insight not only advances our understanding of learning and memory but also has implications for addressing memory-related disorders," Golshani said.

The work was performed by Dr. Arash Bellafard, project scientist at UCLA in close collaboration with Dr. Alipasha Vaziri's group at Rockefeller University.

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Materials provided by University of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences . Original written by Will Houston. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Arash Bellafard, Ghazal Namvar, Jonathan C. Kao, Alipasha Vaziri, Peyman Golshani. Volatile working memory representations crystallize with practice . Nature , 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07425-w

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New treatment could reverse hair loss caused by an autoimmune skin disease

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Images for download on the MIT News office website are made available to non-commercial entities, press and the general public under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives license . You may not alter the images provided, other than to crop them to size. A credit line must be used when reproducing images; if one is not provided below, credit the images to "MIT."

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Researchers at MIT, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Harvard Medical School have developed a potential new treatment for alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss and affects people of all ages, including children.

For most patients with this type of hair loss, there is no effective treatment. The team developed a microneedle patch that can be painlessly applied to the scalp and releases drugs that help to rebalance the immune response at the site, halting the autoimmune attack.

In a study of mice, the researchers found that this treatment allowed hair to regrow and dramatically reduced inflammation at the treatment site, while avoiding systemic immune effects elsewhere in the body. This strategy could also be adapted to treat other autoimmune skin diseases such as vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis, the researchers say.

“This innovative approach marks a paradigm shift. Rather than suppressing the immune system, we’re now focusing on regulating it precisely at the site of antigen encounter to generate immune tolerance,” says Natalie Artzi, a principal research scientist in MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and an associate faculty member at the Wyss Institute of Harvard University.

Artzi and Jamil R. Azzi, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, are the senior authors of the new study , which appears in the journal Advanced Materials . Nour Younis, a Brigham and Women’s postdoc, and Nuria Puigmal, a Brigham and Women’s postdoc and former MIT research affiliate, are the lead authors of the paper.

The researchers are now working on launching a company to further develop the technology, led by Puigmal, who was recently awarded a Harvard Business School Blavatnik Fellowship.

Direct delivery

Alopecia areata, which affects more than 6 million Americans, occurs when the body’s own T cells attack hair follicles, leading the hair to fall out. The only treatment available to most patients — injections of immunosuppressant steroids into the scalp — is painful and patients often can’t tolerate it.

Some patients with alopecia areata and other autoimmune skin diseases can also be treated with immunosuppressant drugs that are given orally, but these drugs lead to widespread suppression of the immune system, which can have adverse side effects.

“This approach silences the entire immune system, offering relief from inflammation symptoms but leading to frequent recurrences. Moreover, it increases susceptibility to infections, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer,” Artzi says.

A few years ago, at a working group meeting in Washington, Artzi happened to be seated next to Azzi (the seating was alphabetical), an immunologist and transplant physican who was seeking new ways to deliver drugs directly to the skin to treat skin-related diseases.

Their conversation led to a new collaboration, and the two labs joined forces to work on a microneedle patch to deliver drugs to the skin. In 2021, they reported that such a patch can be used to prevent rejection following skin transplant. In the new study, they began applying this approach to autoimmune skin disorders.

“The skin is the only organ in our body that we can see and touch, and yet when it comes to drug delivery to the skin, we revert to systemic administration. We saw great potential in utilizing the microneedle patch to reprogram the immune system locally,” Azzi says.

The microneedle patches used in this study are made from hyaluronic acid crosslinked with polyethylene glycol (PEG), both of which are biocompatible and commonly used in medical applications. With this delivery method, drugs can pass through the tough outer layer of the epidermis, which can’t be penetrated by creams applied to the skin.

“This polymer formulation allows us to create highly durable needles capable of effectively penetrating the skin. Additionally, it gives us the flexibility to incorporate any desired drug,” Artzi says. For this study, the researchers loaded the patches with a combination of the cytokines IL-2 and CCL-22. Together, these immune molecules help to recruit regulatory T cells, which proliferate and help to tamp down inflammation. These cells also help the immune system learn to recognize that hair follicles are not foreign antigens, so that it will stop attacking them.

Hair regrowth

The researchers found that mice treated with this patch every other day for three weeks had many more regulatory T cells present at the site, along with a reduction in inflammation. Hair was able to regrow at those sites, and this growth was maintained for several weeks after the treatment ended. In these mice, there were no changes in the levels of regulatory T cells in the spleen or lymph nodes, suggesting that the treatment affected only the site where the patch was applied.

In another set of experiments, the researchers grafted human skin onto mice with a humanized immune system. In these mice, the microneedle treatment also induced proliferation of regulatory T cells and a reduction in inflammation.

The researchers designed the microneedle patches so that after releasing their drug payload, they can also collect samples that could be used to monitor the progress of the treatment. Hyaluronic acid causes the needles to swell about tenfold after entering the skin, which allows them to absorb interstitial fluid containing biomolecules and immune cells from the skin.

Following patch removal, researchers can analyze samples to measure levels of regulatory T cells and inflammation markers. This could prove valuable for monitoring future patients who may undergo this treatment.

The researchers now plan to further develop this approach for treating alopecia, and to expand into other autoimmune skin diseases.

The research was funded by the Ignite Fund and Shark Tank Fund awards from the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

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Press mentions, healthday news.

MIT researchers have developed microneedle patches that are capable of restoring hair growth in alopecia areata patients, reports Ernie Mundell for HealthDay . The team’s approach includes a, “patch containing myriad microneedles that is applied to the scalp,” writes Mundell. “It releases drugs to reset the immune system so it stops attacking follicles.” 

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The Economics of Infertility: Evidence from Reproductive Medicine

WHO estimates that as many as 1 in 6 individuals of reproductive age worldwide are affected by infertility. This paper uses rich administrative population-wide data from Sweden to construct and characterize the universe of infertility treatments, and to then quantify the private costs of infertility, the willingness to pay for infertility treatments, as well as the role of insurance coverage in alleviating infertility. Persistent infertility causes a long-run deterioration of mental health and couple stability, with no long-run “protective” effects (of having no child) on earnings. Despite the high private non-pecuniary cost of infertility, we estimate a relatively low revealed private willingness to pay for infertility treatment. The rate of IVF initiations drops by half when treatment is not covered by health insurance. The response to insurance is substantially more pronounced at lower income levels. At the median of the disposable income distribution, our estimates imply a willingness to pay of at most 22% of annual income for initiating an IVF treatment (or about a 30% chance of having a child). At least 40% of the response to insurance coverage can be explained by a liquidity effect rather than traditional moral hazard, implying that insurance provides an important consumption smoothing benefit in this context. We show that insurance coverage of infertility treatments determines both the total number of additional children and their allocation across the socioeconomic spectrum.

We are grateful for helpful comments from seminar participants at the University of Michigan, Stanford University, University of Zurich, the Becker Friedman Health Economics Initiative Annual Conference, and the Whistler Junior Health Economics Summit. We thank Iliriana Shala at the Research Institute for Industrial Economics for excellent research assistance. We also gratefully acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation (CAREER SES-2144072, Persson), 2022 Stanford Discovery Innovation Fund (Polyakova), the National Institute on Aging (K01AG05984301, Polyakova), and the Sweden-America Foundation (Moshfegh). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Science Foundation or the National Institute on Aging. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

MARC RIS BibTeΧ

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