Happy International Women's Day!

Happy International Women's Day! 

Author: Taryn Crone

Undergraduate Research Assistant for the B-RAD Lab at the University of Alabama

When some people hear “scientist” or “neuroscientist,” they immediately think of a man. However, according to the National Science Foundation, 43% of scientists and engineers under the age of 75 are women, and if you look under the age of 29, then 56% (8 incredible, 2021). Since it is International Women’s Day and women make such a big contribution to the field, this post will highlight some of the amazing achievements women have made in neuroscience.

1. Patricia Goldman-Rakic conducted research on memory and the frontal lobe to help the scientific community learn about memory, behaviors, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease (Andres Murcia, 2021). Her contributions continue to help the neuroscientific community today.
   
2. Another woman who helped the neuroscience community was Maru-Britt Moser. She won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2014 for her discovery with John O’Keefe and Edvard Moser. They discovered cells establish a system to position themselves in the brain (Andres Murcia, 2021). This contribution helped other scientists understand the brain and its complexities even more than they did before.
   
3. Brenda Milner pioneered the H.M. man study (Andres Murcia, 2021). This was a study about a man who had his hippocampus removed and lost his ability to form new memories. From this study, she helped discover that although people may not be consciously aware of it, they can learn new skills (Andres Murcia, 2021).
   
4. The first person to develop a map of the human brain was Cecil Vogt-Mugnier, alongside her husband, Oscar Vogt. Due to these discoveries and her research, she was the first woman nominated for the Noble Prize in Medicine (Andres Murcia, 2021).

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These are just four of the many women who make contributions to science every day, specifically in neuroscience. To our women in science: thank you for paving the way for female success in the field and for inspiring us to pursue our largest goals. Keep up the amazing work! 
 
References:

• 8 incredible women in neurology that changed the game. ImproveMemory.org. (2021, April 21). Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.improvememory.org/blog-posts/8-incredible-women-in-neurology-that-changed-the-game/
• Andres Murcia, B. (2021, December 20). 7 amazing women in the field of neurology. LatinAmerican Post. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://latinamericanpost.com/36424-7-amazing-women-in-the-field-of-neurology