My Discipline

 Bilz,Friedrich Eduard."Phrenology"
1894 . Public Domain Licence 

The following blog entails short commentary about my chosen major- Neurology and Cognitive Sciences- at the University of Arizona, and answering five questions regarding certain aspects of my field and any controversy or ongoing debates within the major.

Question 1: What do students in your program learn how to do?

Within this program, students have a wide variety of educational directions to take in regards to the Neurosciences. Since the field mostly covers the study of the brain and aspects of behaviorism/ psychology, most of the students are trained to become medical professionals- from doctors to behavioral analysts. Most students are trained to be familiar with the lab atmosphere of the profession and using their knowledge of chemistry, can theorize how the mind reacts to certain natural chemicals. Furthermore, most students in the program move on to the Pre-Health department to be trained in medical administration and healthcare.

Question 2: What do people who get degrees in this field usually go on to do for work?

Since this program is Pre-Neurology and Cognitive sciences, most student who obtain the degree move on to medical school to receive their doctorate and practice medicine specializing in neurology. This however is not the only career path. Many students who obtain this degree can work as analysts for corporations- predicting the market based on human behavior- or can move to numerous government jobs in intelligence gathering (CIA) to basic social work. 

Question 3: What drew you to this field?

What really motivated me to this field was my curiosity towards the major and my family history of mental disability / cancer. My mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when I was five, and many of the doctors feared that the cancer metastasized from the gland to the spinal cord and into the brain stem. They believed that if this was so, the radiation treatment would "alter" her behavior and threaten to damage her thinking processes. Luckily, the cancer stayed put and none of that scary medical drama manifested, but the idea left a lasting impression on me.

I now want to have a role in the preventing of cancer in the brain and play a major part in any operations that could save an individual from dying from illnesses within the cranial region.

Question 4: Who are the leaders/most exciting people involved in your field right now? Why? 

Currently, the most exciting individual within the Neuroscience field has to be Dr. Ben Carson because A). he is the only known doctor to be able to separate conjoined twins that shared a brain without the patients dying after the operation, and B). he is currently running for President of the United States. This is the most exciting member of the field because it demonstrates how someone involved in the major can go from one amazing feat of precision and medical impossibility to enjoying success in a heated political race. This shows me any dream can become a reality and that one is not limited to one's degree specialty.

Question 5: What are the leading academic/scholarly journals in your field? Where are they published?  

Currently there are thousands of neurological or cognitive behavior study journals throughout the world, with rankings varying among counties or universities. However three of the most cited journals are the Elsevier Journal (Elsevier.com), the Nature Reviews Neuroscience of the Nature Review publishing group, and the Annual Review of Neuroscience journal. Elsevier is published in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Nature Reviews Neuroscience journal is published in the United Kingdom. And the Annual Review of Neuroscience is published in Palo Alto, California.

Reflection:
After reading the blogs posted by Alyssa and Nick I realized that many people decide to enter a major purely for a personal drive to learn, create, and better our society. Alyssa showed me her heartfelt desire to nurse the most fragile form of human life back to a stable condition, was based on her emotional connection to children. Nick demonstrated that inner curiosity with all of us, and that dream to one day better human existence through innovation. I have found that I am not alone in my quest to place my mark in society. They are but two dreamers who want nothing more than to dedicate their lives for others. I too am one of those dreamers. And in order to fulfill my dream I must work harder, and dedicate myself long before I get to such a position like medical practice.