Major/Minor Behavioral Neuroscience

The official definition of neuroscience from the National Institutes of Health’s Neuroscience Information Framework is quite simple—neuroscience is the branch of science that deals with the study of the nervous system. Of course, studying the nervous system is a complex and ever-evolving endeavor that incorporates disciplines like biology, psychology, and chemistry. Neuroscience sees the brain as more than just an organ; as part of the greater nervous system, the brain enables complex functions like perception, cognition, and emotion. BrainFacts.org, a publication of the Society for Neuroscience, outlines eight core concepts of neurology:

• The brain is the body’s most complex organ.
• Neurons communicate using both electrical and chemical signals.
• Genetically determined circuits are the foundation of the nervous system.
• Life experiences change the nervous system.
• Intelligence arises as the brain reasons, plans, and solves problems.
• The brain makes it possible to communicate knowledge through language.
• The human brain endows us with a natural curiosity to understand how the world works.
• Fundamental discoveries promote healthy living and the treatment of disease.

Behavioral neuroscience is a specialized subset of neuroscience. Where neuroscience looks more broadly at the fundamental properties of the nervous system and how they work, behavioral neuroscience examines the biological bases of behavior and psychological functioning, and their application to experimental and therapeutic research problems.

What is the relationship between the brain and behavior? What is the impact of behavior and environment on the brain’s functions? Behavioral neuroscience explores questions like these by examining topics including learning and memory, cognitive processes, emotional regulation, and more.

In addition to theoretical work, behavioral neuroscience seeks to understand and solve real-world problems related to the nervous system. For example, the National Institute of Mental Health’s Section on Behavioral Neuroscience puts much of its research toward finding molecular and genetic strategies to restore normal executive function in individuals with reduced cognitive abilities due to impairments caused by neurodegenerative disorders and chronic mental illnesses like Alzheimers, schizophrenia, etc.

Career website Indeed.com provides an excellent overview of the various careers available to neuroscience majors. Those who choose to work as a neuroscientist will most often work in a lab, academic institution, or health care facility. Many neuroscience majors also go on to careers in medicine and health-related professions in related fields. Neuroscientists may also work in fields like law, government, consulting, global health, and consumer product research. You may choose to pursue a more specialized area of neuroscience, such as cellular/molecular, cognitive/behavioral, developmental, computational, clinical, neurogenerics, or neurophysiology.

In addition to neuroscientists, many graduates find their skills translate well to jobs like

• Machine learning engineering
• Neurology
• Biostatistics
• Pharmaceutical science
• Teaching

Many neuroscience majors choose to pursue graduate degrees to further their knowledge and suitability for various career options.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics considers neuroscientists under the broader umbrella of “Medical Scientists”, with current median annual wages of just over $100,000 per year. As with any career, salary can vary greatly based on factors like industry, location, level of schooling or experience, etc. As of May 2023, the BLS reported the following median salaries for various industries as follows:

• Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life science: $111,610
• Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing: $109,680
• Medical and diagnostic laboratories: $106,620
• Hospitals (state, local, and private): $97,910
• Colleges, universities, and professional schools: $75,420

Although they are highly related, behavioral neuroscience and psychology are considered separate disciplines because of their differing foci and methodologies. Where behavioral neuroscience concentrates on the biological or physical aspects of the mind, psychology deals with the more abstract realm of the mental.

For example, when approaching a problem related to mental illness, behavioral neuroscientists might turn to brain imaging or electrophysiology to explain certain behaviors and find potential causes and treatments. A psychologist, on the other hand, will take a more behavioral focus, administering psychological evaluations and testing to diagnose issues and provide care in the form of psychotherapy (talk therapy).

There is significant overlap between the two fields, and behavioral neuroscientists and psychologists often work together towards the common goal of understanding human behaviors and resolving cognitive and behavioral problems. In fact, the American Psychological Association publishes several journals and newsletters focused on behavioral neuroscience, and has two divisions dedicated towards their overlapping areas of study–the Society for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology and the Society for Clinical Neuropsychology.

Randolph-Macon College houses the two sciences within the same department, and several of our behavioral neuroscience courses are cross-listed as psychology courses in our course catalog. All Psychology majors are required to take at least one neuroscience course, and all Neuroscience Majors begin their path with PSYC 200 Introduction to Psychology and PSYC201 Research Methods. Since these fields are so related, all students in the department start with gaining the basic tools and skills for advanced study in each major.