The human brain is the most complex living structure known. It controls all functions of our body, ranging from the rate at which our heart beats to our ability to walk, and it is responsible for our emotions, thoughts and memories. Understanding how the brain and the rest of the nervous system works is one of the biggest challenges facing mankind, but, in spite of its daunting complexity, there are many areas of neuroscience that are yielding fascinating insights.
Scientists study the nervous system for two main reasons.
First, they aim to find out more about ourselves, such as what happens when we 'see', 'hear' or 'touch', what makes us behave the way we do, and what it means when we feel pain or emotion. The cells that relay information by electrical signals are the nerve cells or neurons and they are surrounded by supporting cells known as glia. During the BSc degree in Neuroscience at UCL, you will learn in cell biology about the special features of these cells. In pharmacology you will discover how drugs can interfere with transmitter action to alter the flow of information in the nervous system.