人脑仍然是存在的最复杂和最神秘的结构之一。它使我们能够思考，记住，感觉和执行协调的运动，并与体内的许多其他系统交互作用，以调节诸如心率，生长和食欲之类的过程。不幸的是，与任何其他疾病组（包括心脏病和癌症）相比，有1000多种大脑和神经系统疾病，导致更多的住院治疗和生产力下降。实际上，世界卫生组织估计，神经系统疾病影响全世界多达十亿人。通过基础，应用和临床研究，进入该重点领域的学生将对减轻这种神经系统负担和促进更健康的神经系统功能感兴趣。他们将了解构成健康神经系统和认知功能的生物过程，导致功能障碍的失调的原
Students entering this focus area will have an interest in reducing the burden of neurological and mental health disorders through research. Students will develop an understanding of the normal biological processes that undergird healthy brain and cognitive function, the causes and mechanisms of dysregulation that lead to dysfunction, and current and evolving approaches to therapy and novel therapeutic development. They will explore the inter-relationships of these processes at multiple levels at the intersection of brain biology, behavior, cognition, medicine and health and develop a strong foundation for pursuing doctoral level research in the brain and cognitive sciences. Students can choose to focus in Cognititive Neuroscience or Molecular Neuroscience.