The human brain — a spongy, three-pound mass of tissue — is the most complex living structure in the known universe.

Researching the brain and mind requires a major financial investment on a global scale, and takes place in a wide variety of locations and organizations.

Scientists who study the brain do so for many reasons. For some, the opportunity to study the most complex living structure in the known universe is itself an exciting quest. So much is still unknown about brain function and development.

The discovery in the late 1950s that the level of dopamine was decreased in the brains of Parkinson’s patients was followed in the 1960s by successful treatment with the drug levodopa, which is converted to dopamine in the brain. This historical event is one of the greatest medical breakthroughs in the field of neurology.

What do standing frustrated in a supermarket checkout line or sitting in a traffic jam have in common with fleeing predators, as was done in the early days of human beings?

The cerebrum, the largest part of the human brain, is associated with higher order functioning, including the control of voluntary behavior. Thinking, perceiving, planning, and understanding language all lie within the cerebrum’s control.

Neuroethics will draw from the experience of bioethics in handling scientific communication with the media and responsible transfer of knowledge from basic science to profit-driven venture.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disorder characterized by psychosis (e.g., hallucinations and delusions), flattened emotions, and impaired cognitive function.

Medical professionals have come to rely on even more specialized forms of the MRI machine, each suited to spotting specific warning signs.

Researchers throughout the world are pursuing a variety of new ways to repair or replace neurons and other cells in the brain. For the most part, these experimental approaches are still being worked out in animals and cannot be considered therapies for humans at this time.