Neuroscience and Psychiatry

Basic neuroscience has made spectacular progress in the course of the 20ieth century. Presently, scientists have a good knowledge of the various cells belonging to the nervous system, their shape, functions, the communication networks they build up between each other as well as the chemical molecules necessary to their activity.

They understand how the nervous system captures and analyzes the manifold information contained in our environment, they know that this system adapts and modifies itself permanently according to each individual's living experience. However, there is still much to be done to learn how the brain integrates and manages this mass of information, and what subtle mechanisms allow us, on a daily basis, to have complex and diversified behaviours.         

Knowledge already gathered in the field of neuroscience and the results of future research can be of great use for the understanding and treatment of psychiatric disorders. To make this input really productive, it is essential to establish close collaboration between neurobiologists and psychiatrists.

The task proves to be fascinating, difficult – and costly.