Brain

Perceive, imagine, think, judge and decide are just some of the basic functions of the human brain. The surface of the brain, called the cerebral cortex, is composed of six layers of neurons. A neuron is a nerve cell specialized and is the basic block to build a nervous system. Neurons are similar to other cells in an organism, however, these are specialized in transmitting information.

Nerve cells are responsible for reporting information in chemical and in electrical form. These are electrically charged by membrane transport proteins which pump ions across their membranes.

In the human body there are several types of neurons responsible for different functions. Sensory neurons carry sensory information from the receiver along the body to the brain. Motor neurons transmit information from the brain to the muscles of the body. The interneurons are responsible for reporting information between different neurons.

In respect to their structure and organization of its extensions neurons observed , can be classified into:

- Unipolar - have a cell body and axon. They are very common and are, for example, the sensory cells of the retina and mucosal olfactória;

- Bipolar - have a dendrite, a cell body and axon. Are common in sensory structures (retina, olfactory mucosa);

- Pseudo-unipolar - have a cell body, and only an extension, which acts as a part of dendrite and axon to in the other party. A typical example of these are sensory neurons of the sensory ganglia of the spinal cord, responsible for conducting nerve impulses of touch, pressure and heat;

- Multipolar - have a cell body, dendrites and an axon several. Constitute the majority of neurons in the nervous tissue.

[From: http://www.icb.usp.br/mol/images/9-des-neuronios-cor.jpg]

3D Brain Tour

[From: http://www.g2conline.org/3dBrain_holder.swf]

Neuroscience

In a simplified way, neuroscience can be described as the study of the nervous system.
 It is a multidisciplinary science that revolves around several areas such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics, medicine and genetics.

The study of the nervous system can be done at multiple levels ranging from molecular and cellular levels to cognitive levels. With that said, neuroscience is involved in distinct subfields such as: affective, behavioral, cellular, cognitive, and molecular neuroscience, neuro-informatics, neuroimaging and the list goes on.

For example, in molecular neuroscience are included the mechanics by which neurons express and respond to molecular signals. In Affective neuroscience is studied the neural mechanisms involved in emotion.