In a similar vein follows a list of neuroscientific problems which outline the goals towards which neuroscientists may strive. These problems are regarded as difficult but not completely inaccessible. It is hoped that neuroscientists look them over and select the ones which seem to show promise of being solvable or important. Progress may be made already by presenting clearer formulations of a problem so that it becomes more accessible to theoretical or experimental analyses.
Few researchers choose their fields of study freely and according to scientific criteria.
In addition, there are many different motivations for doing neuroscientific research, among these to cure diseases, to get inspirations for building better technical devices, or to enjoy research for its own sake. This list, however, aims to focus on the core of the neuroscientific enterprise. A fundamental difference is that with regard to the kidney one thinks that, in principle, it is clear how it works and that only the details still have to be worked out. With the brain remains the impression that in order to understand it at all we are still missing some fundamental insights and that this principal problem blocks significant progress despite a huge amount of detailed research being carried out.