Programme components

Programme components are comprised of following subjects:

1. Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience:

The first programme component comprises projects that draw upon the modern methods of molecular and cellular biology. A broad range of subjects are covered, including signalling events induced by neuronal activity; research explaining the structure and function of nerve cells; and the development and application of transgenic animal models for understanding the operation and diseases of the nervous system. Molecular and cellular neuroscience is often utilized to explore the development, plasticity, regeneration and diseases of the nervous system, as well as in the study of systems neuroscience (see components II-IV). On the other hand, the efforts to unravel key molecular mechanisms in synaptic signal transmission, for instance, may apply the methods of structural biology and lead in the direction of chemistry and biophysics.

2. Nervous System Development, Plasticity and Repair:

The nervous system functions as an organised network of nerve cells, the development and post-damage repair of which requires plasticity that is based on the activity of nerve cells. Studies of development, plasticity and repair therefore apply similar approaches and research methods. This programme component comprises research projects that are concerned with nervous system development, plasticity and repair mechanisms.

This component also comprises nervous system stem cell research, a field that is now growing very rapidly. It has great diversity in terms of the methods represented, and it has clear links with other programme components.

3. Systems and Cognitive Neuroscience:

Systems neuroscience is concerned with the function of neural systems as part of the whole organism. One of the key questions is how neurons and neuron clusters join together to produce functional networks. Systems neuroscience forms a link between so-called higher cognitive functions and molecular and cellular neuroscience. An important premise is that a neural system is not just the sum of its constituent parts, but its systemic characteristics produce surprising and highly complex functions. Cognitive neuroscience, as a central part of systems neuroscience, is interested to explore how the brain produces mental phenomena.

The systems and cognitive neuroscience component of the programme comprises research projects dealing with questions related to e.g. social interaction, decision-making, perception, attention, memory, learning, emotions, personality, the regulation of alertness and sleep, and the homeostatic regulation of the organism. The component embraces a broad spectrum of methods, and the approaches applied may range from behavioural sciences to molecular biology. Brain imaging methods have an important role in this component.

4. Diseases of the Nervous System:

According to the results of a joint survey by the WHO, Harvard University and the World Bank (Global Burden of Disease, 2000), diseases of the nervous system are responsible for 35 per cent of the total disease burden in Europe (as assessed on the basis of disease-adjusted life years, DALY). In Finland, STAKES statistics (1991) indicate that on the list of the seven most expensive diseases in terms of public health costs, the top four are all nervous system diseases: mental health disorders, dementia, cerebrovascular diseases and neuroses; furthermore, developmental nervous system disorders rank sixth on this list. The weight and significance of nervous system diseases is set to increase even further over the next few decades as the population continues to age.

There is a real and urgent need for new effective treatments and preventive methods; that is why it is so important to understand the aetiological mechanisms behind these diseases.

This component comprises both nervous system research that aims to understand the mechanisms of diseases and the line of work that is aimed at the development of disease models. As far as methodology is concerned, the component comprises all key neuroscientific methods from imaging to electrophysiology, genetics and cellular and molecular biology methods. Research can also take advantage of Finland's unique patient cohorts and the methods of molecular epidemiology.

5.Neuroinformatics and Neurotechnology:

One important part of neuroscience research is represented by neuroinformatics, which is here taken to include computational neuroscience. Neuroinformatics is a relatively new research area where the focus is on developing databases of neuroscience research information, methods of signal analysis, analytical and modelling tools as well as computational models of brain structure and function.

Neuroinformatics combines different areas of neuroscience and aims to create a closer synthesis between them. This component also comprises projects studying the development of neurotechnological applications. Neurotechnology refers to methods that are aimed at impacting the function of the central nervous system with a view to achieving the desired (curative) effects. One of the main areas of neurotechnology is the development of different kinds of neuroprostheses.

6. Ethical, Philosophical and Socio-Cultural Aspects Related to Neuroscience:

Subjects that come under this heading including
(1) neurophilosophy, i.e. the impacts of modern neuroscience on the traditionally philosophical problems, concepts and theories about the fundamental nature of the human mind and brain and the relationship of the mind to the brain (e.g. the nature of consciousness, self and will in the light of neuroscience);
(2) philosophical questions related to neuroscience, e.g. basic fundamental questions that have to do with the explanation, measurement, imaging or modelling of neural phenomena and systems or related theory-building, as well as subjects concerning the nature of scientific development or change in neuroscience;
(3) neuroethics, or ethical questions and problems related to the methods and (future) applications of neuroscience; and
(4) the socio-cultural impacts of neuroscience, i.e. research into the social and cultural changes brought about by neuroscience and its applications.