New Technologies in Neurosciences

Neuroscience encompasses the study of the nervous system. It not only involves the study of its anatomy and physiology, but also the diagnosis and treatment of the pathologies in relation with the nervous system.

Thanks to past and present research, neuroscience has evolved from studying the anatomy and physiology of the brain to finding cures for complex neurological disorders. The genetic variation and non-Mendelian inheritance create a challenge in understanding neurological disorders that disrupt the normal processes of the brain such as Alzheimer’s disease. The following video shows the evolution of Alzheimer’s disease:

Due to advances in neuroscience the horizon looks brighter. Molecular biology has played an important role in understanding the genetic characteristics behind neurological disorders, but also imaging technologies are now contributing to a better understanding of the human brain. The Human Brain Project and the Brain Activity Map Project seek to integrate everything we know about the brain into massive databases and detailed computer models.

In this sense, in order to find a cure, researchers use different techniques in a multidisciplinary approach that spans from radiology to molecular biology. The Human Connectome Project aims to provide an unparalleled compilation of neural data as well as an interface to navigate across these data to achieve conclusions about the living human brain.

By understanding how the human brain works, we can effectively identify and target the affected areas that cause neurological diseases:

• The brain is an enormously complicated system of interconnected cells. Johnson and Wu suggest that the human brain has 10¹² neurons with 10¹⁵ synapses. The magnitude of 10¹⁵ synapses is about 222 times greater than the distance from Earth to Pluto in meters.  

• Sleep has an important role in memory. Recent studies have shown that presentation of smells or sounds that accompanied learning can enhance procedural and episodic memories when re-presented in sleep. Welberg L. Nat Rev Neurosci 2013, 14: 737. 

• In the 18th of October issue of Science a mechanistic explanation for how sleep, in addition to its well-described effects on memory consolidation, facilitates the clearance of potentially neurotoxic waste products that accumulate during wakefulness was published. Xie L. Science 2013, 342:373.

• Chronic pain is estimated to affect over one-quarter of the world's population, and presents a considerable therapeutic challenge. The aim is to understand the risk factors and mechanisms that underlie chronic pain to develop effective and non-addictive treatments for this condition.

• The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2014 was awarded with one half to John O'Keefe and the other half jointly to May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser "for their discoveries of cells that constitute a positioning system in the brain"

• Be able to identify different techniques applied to neuroscience research.
• Know the main imaging and molecular techniques used in neurosciences.
• Study new markers and treatments for neurological diseases.
• Know about surgical procedures in neuroscience.
• Concept of optogenetic technique.