The very nature of these questions continues to expand as we learn more about the nervous system, and illustrates the importance of an interdisciplinary approach to the study of neuroscience.
The coming decades will be tremendously exciting for those who dare to unravel brain-behavior relationships and diseases that disrupt those relationships.
How do we respond to stimuli in our environment, process information, form new memories, make decisions and use language? What are the underlying causes of disorders like depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, aphasias, and Parkinson's disease? How does the nervous system respond to traumatic injury or drugs? What is consciousness? These are some of the central questions in the study of neuroscience.
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Inspiring change in health care
“I’m inspired by the healthcare system,” says Caleb Winn '18. He quickly clarifies, “I’m inspired by the opportunities for change in the healthcare system.” Winn, a native of Natick, Mass., will work after graduation as an analyst for a private healthcare consulting firm, where he also completed an internship. “For an employer to get to know you, that’s the best resume you can have.” Eventually, the neuroscience major hopes to complete Fulbright research in Rwanda on improving patient compliance, or the degree to which patients follow medical advice. While at UVM, Winn founded “The Natural Philosopher,” a science news journal aimed at making research approachable for fellow undergrads. Listen to Caleb discuss his senior thesis on WBUR’s “On Point.”
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Multiple perspectives
The University of Vermont introduced the bachelor of science in neuroscience in 2010 and a minor in neuroscience effective in the fall of 2016. Both the neuroscience major and minor were designed as a collaborative effort of faculty in biology, psychology, communication sciences, and the College of Medicine, and joins ranks with a strong neuroscience graduate program and an active, energetic research community within the university.