Neuroscience Student Interview

Elizabeth Mooney, a second year neuroscience major in college, has been fascinated with the brain for years. Why? Well I conducted an interview with her so I could understand the concept of neuroscience more before going into intense literary research about the brain. What is neuroscience?

"Neuroscience is the study of the human brain, including neuroanatomy and brain physiology."

What made you want to study neuroscience?

"I wanted to study to neuroscience because the brain is the most complex and fascinating thing in the universe. It's something we all have but something no one fully understands."

What are some cool things about neuroscience?

"People think that they know the about it but misunderstand it, such as we only use 10 percent of our brains, false, the brain is broken up into parts and each part works almost all of the time. It never completely shuts off. Even blind people use the vision center of their brains, they "see" inside their minds. The brain can compensate for loss in one section by strengthening another. It's cool that so much happens at the same time without you being aware of it. Breathing, blinking, heart beating as well as movement. Imagine if you had to think about picking up a foot in order to walk. In fact you are commanding the action, it just happens so quickly that it's done before you know it. It's so devastating when there is a brain injury or disease because things taken for granted take longer. Taking a minute to move your arm is excruciating to experience. I hope to help people have better life if they suffer any brain function loss."

What are some of the most interesting parts of the brain?

"The most interesting part of the brain to me is the cerebellum, often called the little brain. It is at the back and bottom of the brain. It controls balance and coordination."

What are some important terms neurologist would know?

"Frontal lobe Temporal lobe Parietal lobe Occipital lobe Synapses (how the brain communicates between different parts)." After going through this interview it is obvious there is a lot of knowledge I must acquire in order to write like a neuroscience fanatic properly.