Over the past few decades, neuroscience has been one of the fastest evolving fields of science. No wonder thirty-two recipients among the many Nobel Prizes winners to date are scientists who have worked tremendously hard in developing our knowledge about the nervous system.
Our nervous system includes our brain, spinal cord and all motor (efferent) and sensory (afferent) nerves carrying information from and to the brain. All the five senses which make us complete report to our brain.
The nervous system innervates our skin, heart, lungs, liver, kidney, or other organs, maintaining our body’s physiology. Needless to say that the nervous system influences all human functions. Hence, it is very important to understand how the nervous system works.
The multidisciplinary science that combines Physiology, Anatomy, Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology, Cytology, Physics, Computer Science, Chemistry and Mathematical modelling to understand the complexity of the nervous system is called Neuroscience.
Neuroscientists are involved in studying the architectural development and functions of the nervous system. The nervous system is crucial for maintaining humans’ overall health and well-being.
In today’s world, there are more than 1,000 disorders of the brain and nervous system, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as Down’s Syndrome. Behavioural disorders, such as Autism Spectrum disorders; learning disabilities and reading disorders; sleep disorders, such as Insomnia, Hypersomnia, and Narcolepsy. Mental health problems, such as Schizophrenia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
Musculoskeletal disorders, such as Muscular Dystrophy; structural defects, such as neural tube defects, which include Spina Bifida, Hydrocephaly; injuries, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, as well as how the body processes pain; cancers, including brain tumours, epilepsy, seizures, and stroke.
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It is crucial to study how these nervous diseases and disorders develop and how well our nervous system functions in such cases. In addition to studying the structural and functional properties of the nervous system, neuroscientists study disorders, diseases and injuries that affect various parts of the nervous system.
Scientific advancements have enabled neuroscientists to study the nervous system in great depth. The many discoveries by neuroscientists have helped tremendously in the diagnosis and therapeutics of nervous system disorders and diseases.
The Faculty of Allied Health Science (FAHS) offers 9 UG and 9 PG courses and PhD programmes in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Nutrition & Dietetics and Radio-Imaging Technology. This year we have introduced a new PG course – M.Sc. in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics. The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences is committed to providing the highest quality education by strengthening classroom teaching by highly skilled and experienced faculty with hands-on training through clinical postings in our Hospital within the campus with 24×7 working labs equipped with all modern facilities.
Written By:-
Dr Vibha M Jha
Associate Professor (Neuroscience)
Faculty of Allied Health Science
SGT University