N2 Levels of Analysis

Neuroscience is a large and terse subject, and thus must be broken down via a reductionist approach of study.

• Molecular neuroscience: exactly how it sounds, the study of the molecular structures at the most fundamental levels (many structures at this level are unique to the brain and nervous system).
• Cellular neuroscience: moving up a level, we have the study of the cells and their function in regards to the brain/CNS/PNS. The question of the uniqueness of such cells is an essential component of this field.
• Systems neuroscience: the study of entire regions of the brain which function as a system, and their use/control (and perhaps the changing thereof). Think the “visual center,” or motor control: specific motor control of the hand, for example.
• Behavioral neuroscience: how do these regions, cells, molecular structures, etc. influence the behavior of the brain/person? This is the field which attempts to answer this. Subfields of this might be psycho-/neuropharmacology, gender determination, dreams.
• Cognitive neuroscience: a relatively new field, cognitive neuroscience asks the questions of where consciousness, language, imagination, etc. come from. How do they work? Can they be edited? Improved?