1-1-7 Brain research in the 20th century/Academic research which accelerated understanding of the brain
In the latter half of the 20th century, researchers not only from the medical and biological fields but also those from the physics and chemistry fields joined together in brain research, and investigations markedly accelerated.
Cellular level study methods (cellular neuroscience) such as the micromorphological analysis technique using microscopes, new electro-physiological techniques like the patch clamp method, biochemical analysis techniques, immunostaining methods, inner cell calcium concentration measurement techniques using optical measurement, and so forth, were also introduced into brain research.
Before long, molecular biological methods (molecular neuroscience), the analysis of cell membranes and the functional molecules in a cell at a genetic level, was also introduced into brain research, which enabled us to understand their function at the molecular level.
And the techniques of knockout, or inhibition, of specific genes manifesting in the brain, also permitted us to research molecules which were responsible for defined functions.
These gene manipulation techniques, combined with behavioural studies that aim to understand brain function by behavior (behavioural neuroscience) , enabled us to analogize animal behavior from a molecular level.
On the other hand, research to make a theoretical understanding of the brain has been developed. Neural circuit action simulation and Analysis of working principle (system neuroscience) have been established as fields of brain science.
And research to analyze high-level brain functions such as memory, learning, comprehension, and thinking from the standpoints of psychology and the information theory (cognitive neuroscience), has also developed.
From that time, the precision and speed of computer analyzability has increased dramatically, and raised the precision of experiments in various fields.
In particular, it has made analysis of X-ray images, positron images, and computed tomography (CT) of nuclear magnetic resonance images of the brain, easier, and with the information from this analysis, enabled us to obtain tomographic images of the brain.
As one consequence, drugs which affect brain function were developed. The development of brain research in the latter half of the 20th century has been nothing short of a miracle.
Challenge Quiz
Today, brain research is driven by various methods from various fields.In particular, the introduction of ( evolutional biology comparative biology molecular biology anatomy ) led to great developments.
The experiments with mice using ( kick out knock out shut out take out ) techniques to neutralize a targeted gene relating to a specific function gave an important clue to the understanding of brain function.
The development of ( behavioral neuroscience cognitive neuroscience comparative neuroscience system neuroscience ) was essential for the success of this experiment.