Neuroscience

Neuroscience, the study of the nervous system, is a highly integrated discipline and one of the most rapidly advancing areas of modern science. The nervous system controls and coordinates all bodily functions from simple reflexes to highly complex, motivated behaviors. Neuroscience draws upon knowledge developed in many domains, including anatomy, biochemistry, biology, genetics, pharmacology, and psychology, and represents inquiries along a continuum from molecules to mind. Scientists in this challenging field must cross boundaries dividing traditional specialties and employ multidisciplinary approaches.

Two neuroscience tracks are offered within the Vanderbilt Brain Institute’s Neuroscience Graduate Program. The Cellular & Molecular track stresses genetic, molecular and cellular approaches to understanding brain function and disease, while the Cognitive & Systems track emphasizes neural systems and global brain function. Student interested Cellular and Molecular neuroscience can enter through the IGP program, which provides doctoral training with emphasis on neurogenetics and genetic dissection of neural development, molecular aspects of synapse formation and plasticity, structure and regulation of ion channels and transporters, targeting and signal transduction, psychotropic drug action, the molecular basis of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and targeted gene disruption in transgenic animals to ascertain the function of neural genes and establish disease models.