First, as Babyboomers age, there is a growing awareness of degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, cerebral aneurysms, stokes, long terms effects of substance abuse, epilepsy, and other diseases of the brain. Millions of people are affected by these neurological disorders every year. The research contests the adage that old dogs can't learn new tricks by demonstrating the brain's ability to grow new cells and maintain it's cognitive functioning. These studies depend on research generated from the fields of molecular biology, psychoneuropharmacology, neurobiology, and neuroscience. The tools of exploration improve annually with advancements in computer technology and more precise methods of observing actual brain functioning as opposed to postmortem studies.
Scientists use electrodes and amplifiers to map the brain's electrical activity.
These studies are illuminating the sophisticated communication system established between brain cells. Neurobiologists study the communication between brain chemicals and the rest of the body's nervous system. Neuroanatomists use electronic microscopes to trace the neural pathways from deep within the brain all the way down to the big toes. Neuroscience is on the brink of helping brain-damaged adults to rewire their brains in order to restore thought and function. Researchers have identified peptide receptors which determine whether one will be a teetotaler, moderate drinker, or alcoholic.