neuroscience

American  

[noor-oh-sahy-uhns, nyoor-] / ˌnʊər oʊˈsaɪ əns, ˌnjʊər- /

noun

• neurosciences
  plural

1. the field of study encompassing the various scientific disciplines dealing with the structure, development, function, chemistry, pharmacology, and pathology of the nervous system.

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neuroscience British  

/ ˈnjʊərəʊˌsaɪəns /

noun

1. the study of the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and pharmacology of the nervous system

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• neuroscientist
  noun
• neuroscientific
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• neurosciences
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of neuroscience

First recorded in 1960–65; neuro- + science

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Explanation

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and the nervous system. If you're interested in the way human brains work, you might want to study neuroscience. The scientific field of neuroscience started out as a branch of biology, although people have been fascinated with the brain at least since ancient Egyptians studied the effects of drilling small holes in the skull to treat mental disorders. Today neuroscience is an interdisciplinary field, involving chemistry, linguistics, and genetics, among many other disciplines. Neuroscience has roots in the Greek neuro, "nerve," and Latin scientia, "knowledge."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neuroscience neurosciences

Pulling on threads from psychology, sociology, neuroscience, and systems theory, Frade's thinking rejected the common belief that technical, tactical, physical and psychological parts of football should be treated as separate things.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

The project combines years of work across medicine, neuroscience, clinical research, and technology, all directed toward improving the lives of people affected by PTSD.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

In 2010, after earning a Ph.D. in neuroscience and deepening his study of the mind, he started DeepMind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

René Descartes believed animals were soulless, unthinking automatons, though modern neuroscience has repeatedly disproven that one.

From Salon ● Oct. 12, 2026

He’s a neurologist, an MD, with a PhD in neuroscience.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

It has been spearheaded by neurosurgeon Paul Brennan, of NHS Lothian's department of clinical neurosciences, and Race Against Dementia Fellow Dr Claire Durrant of the University of Edinburgh.

From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026

Over its 11-year span, the campaign raised $215 million for pediatric cancer, $125 million for the Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, $147 million for neurosciences and $450 million in endowment funds.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 3, 2022

Dr. Itai Danovitch, chairman of the psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said patients were experiencing twin worries from the pandemic and the holidays.

From New York Times ● Dec. 23, 2021

But when one turns to animal sciences, human biology, or neurosciences, we see very few conclusive answers to how control and communication occur.

From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2020

“We understand many aspects of it, and now the neurosciences are helping to clarify important issues. But as for its essence, it’s like saying, ‘Let’s define the essence of love.’

From Scientific American ● Jun. 26, 2019

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