Clinical neuroscience
Clinical neuroscience applies knowledge of the nervous system to understand, diagnose, and treat neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Neurology: The medical specialty concerned with disorders of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles. Neurology translates nervous-system knowledge into diagnosis and treatment of neurological disease.
Neuroanatomy: The study of the structure and organization of the nervous system. Anatomical pathways help localize lesions and interpret clinical symptoms.
Neuroscience: The scientific study of the nervous system, including its structure, function, development, and disorders. Clinical neuroscience draws its foundational models and discoveries from this broader field.
Basic neuroscience: Research on nervous-system mechanisms that is not primarily directed at immediate clinical application. Clinical neuroscience uses basic findings but must also answer questions about patients and care.
Psychiatry: The medical specialty concerned with diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Psychiatry addresses disorders whose symptoms and treatments involve brain function and behavior.
Neurophysiology: The study of how neurons and nervous-system circuits function. Physiological measurements reveal dysfunction underlying clinical signs.
Clinical trial: A research study that prospectively evaluates a medical intervention in human participants. Trials test whether neuroscience-based treatments are safe and effective in clinical settings.
Behavioral neuroscience: The study of biological processes underlying behavior, often through experimental research. Behavioral neuroscience explains behavior biologically, while clinical neuroscience centers on disorders and care.
Neuropsychology: The study of relationships between brain function and cognition, emotion, and behavior. Neuropsychological assessment links cognitive changes to nervous-system conditions.
Neurotransmitter: A chemical messenger released by neurons to affect other cells. Many psychiatric and neurological treatments alter neurotransmitter signaling.