List of women neuroscientists
The following is a list of women neuroscientists by nationality – notable women who are well known for their work in the field of neuroscience.
Argentina
- Cecilia Bouzat, biochemist studying neurological disorders
Australia
- Lyn Beazley, British-born Australian neuroscientist and educator
- Leeanne Carey, neuroscientist in occupational therapy and stroke rehabilitation and recovery research
- Una Lucy Fielding, neuroanatomist remembered for discovering the vascular link between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
- Mary Galea, physiotherapist and neuroscientist at the University of Melbourne
- Jee Hyun Kim, behavioral neuroscientist focusing on emotional learning and memory during childhood
- Elspeth McLachlan, world authority on neural pathways within the autonomic nervous system
- Pat Michie, emeritus professor of psychology at Australia's University of Newcastle
- Kathryn North, paediatric physician, neurologist, and clinical geneticist working on cognitive deficits in neurofibromatosis type 1 and intervention strategies for children with learning disabilities and inherited myopathies
- Jennie Ponsford, neuroscientist researching the negative consequences of traumatic brain injury related to fatigue, sleep disturbance, attentional problems, mood and behavioural disturbances
- Sandra Rees, research into the pathogenesis of brain injury
- Linda Richards, currently researching development of the cortical midline
- Nicole Rinehart, focus on autism, Asperger's disorder and ADHD
- Lesley Joy Rogers, emeritus professor of neuroscience at Australia's University of New England
- Renae Ryan, neuroscientists and pharmacologist promoting gender equity, diversity and inclusion
- Ingrid Scheffer, paediatric neurologist and senior research fellow focusing on epilepsy
Austria
- Alexandra Adler, neurologist remembered for her work on the brain of a multiple sclerosis victim and for her research on posttraumatic stress disorder
- Elisabeth Binder, neuroscientist specializing in the study of mood and anxiety disorders
- Melly Oitzl, behavioral neuroscientist focusing on relationships between stress, cognition and emotion
Brazil
- Suzana Herculano-Houzel, focus on neuroanatomy
- Anna Christina Nobre, UK-based Brazilian neuroscientist researching neural systems supporting cognitive functions in the human brain
Canada
- Rosemary Bagot, researching the mechanisms of altered brain function in depression
- Frances Champagne, focus on molecular neuroscience, maternal behavior, and epigenetics
- Anne Churchland, neuroscientist focusing on the function of the posterior parietal cortex in cognitive processes
- Karen Davis, focusing on the mechanisms underlying acute and chronic pain and temperature perception, the influence of attention, and plasticity
- Allison J. Doupe, psychiatrist, biologist, and neuroscientist focusing on avian neurobiology and communication
- Lillian Dyck, Saskatchewan senator, formerly a neuroscientist and dean at the University of Saskatchewan
- Gillian Einstein, American-born Canadian neuroscientist focusing on the anatomy of the female brain
- Ariel Garten, clothing designer and scientist exploring the intersection of art and neuroscience
- Isabel Gauthier, cognitive neuroscientist and journal editor
- Mireille Gillings, US-based Canadian neurobiologist and entrepreneur
- Rachel Sarah Herz, psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist focusing on the psychology of smell
- Judy Illes, professor of neurology focusing on neuroethics
- Ingrid Johnsrude, neuroscientist and professor focusing on brain structure and language ability, and degenerative brain diseases in the elderly
- Sheena Josselyn, neuroscientist studying the neural basis of memory
- Daphne Maurer, experimental psychologist focusing on child development, vision and synaesthesia
- Brenda Milner, British-Canadian neuroscientist focusing on clinical neuropsychology
- Kathryn Mary Murphy, neuroscientists studying the development and plasticity of the brain
- Lorina Naci, Albanian-born Canadian psychologist and neuroscientist known for developing a method for communicating with patients in a persistent vegetative state
- Isabelle Peretz, professor of psychology specializing in music cognition
- Jane Roskams, Isle of Man-born Canadian neuroscientist interested in Brain Big Data and Open Data sharing
- Deboleena Roy, neuroscientist focusing on reproductive neuroendocrinology and molecular biology
- Justine Sergent, Lebanese-born Canadian neuroscience researcher specializing in the functional neuroanatomy of face processing
- Bernice Shanet, neurophysiologist specializing in neuroregeneration research
- Debra W. Soh, science columnist, sex researcher and psychologist
- Jane Stewart, neuroscientist active in psychology, psychiatry, and psychopharmacology
- Indre Viskontas, Lithuanian-Canadian cognitive neuroscientist and operatic soprano
- Sandra Witelson, neuroscientist best known for her analysis of specimens from Albert Einstein's brain
Chile
- Marcela Peña, Full professor at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Ph.D. in Sciences Cognitives et Psycholinguistique, at ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE DE PARIS, France. Studying Early Neuro-Cognitive Development
- Alejandra Rossi, Faculty at Universidad Diego Portales. Ph.D. in Cognitive Science & Neural Sciences at INDIANA UNIVERSITY-BLOOMINGTON, USA. Studying Social and Cognitive Neuroscience
China
- Yang Dan, Chinese-born scientist based in the US specializing in neural circuits controlling sleep and the function of the prefrontal cortex
- Nancy Ip, Hong Kong neuroscientist
- Lily Jan, neuroscientist investigating the neuromuscular junction in Drosophila fly larvae
- Li-Huei Tsai, Taiwanese neuroscientist based in the US known for her work on neurological disorders that affect learning and memory
- Dayu Lin, Chinese neuroscientist based in the U.S. studying neural circuits underlying aggression in rodents.
- Hailan Hu, explores neural mechanisms underlying social behaviors and psychiatric diseases
Czech Republic
- Eva Syková, neuroscientist researching ionic and volume homeostasis
Denmark
- Gudrun Boysen, neurologist researching the causes and effects of strokes
- Gitte Moos Knudsen, translational neurobiologist and clinical neurologist
- Maiken Nedergaard, neuroscientist known for discovering the glyphatic system
- Milena Penkowa, neuroscientist guilty of scientific misconduct
Finland
- Riitta Hari, neuroscientist known for her work on the understanding of healthy and diseased human cortex development
- Miia Kivipelto, neuroscientist researching dementia and Alzheimer's disease
France
- Denise Albe-Fessard, neuroscientist known for her research into the central nervous system pain pathways
- Angélique Arvanitaki, neuroscientist known for her research into the electrical activity of neurons
- Aurore Avarguès-Weber, cognitive neuroscientist researching the behaviour of bees
- Anne Beaumanoir, neurophysiologist and resistance worker who headed the neurophysiology department of the University Hospital of Geneva
- Augusta Déjerine-Klumpke, American-born French neuroanatomist known for co-authoring the two-volume book on the anatomy of nerve centers Anatomie des Centres Nerveux
- Brigitte Kieffer, molecular neurobiologist known for researching opiate receptors
- Laurence Lanfumey, neuroscientist specializing in preclinical research on neuroscience and molecular neuropsychopharmacology
- Marcelle Lapicque, neurophysiologist known for her research on nerve impulses and the effects of poisons
- Christine Petit, geneticist known for pioneering work on the genetics of hearing and deafness
- Cécile Vogt-Mugnier, neurologist known for extensive cytoarchetectonic studies on the brain
Germany
- Katrin Amunts, neuroscientist known for brain mapping
- Angela D. Friederici, expert in neuropsychology and linguistics
- Magdalena Götz, neuroscientist noted for her study of glial cells
- Eva-Maria Mandelkow, neuroscientist and Alzheimer's Disease researcher
- Petra Ritter, neuroscientist applying computational neuroscience to brain simulations
- Constance Scharff, zoologist and neuroethologist researching birdsong and neurogenesis
- Sigrid Schmitz, neuroscientist researching gender and science technology with a focus on brain sciences and contemporary neurocultures
- Tania Singer, psychologist and social neuroscientist
- Marthe Vogt, remembered for her important contributions to the understanding of the role of neurotransmitters in the brain
- Maren Engelhardt, neuroscientist known for her outstanding contributions to the field of axonal plasticity
- Nadine Gogolla, neuroscientist known for decoding facial expressions in mice as emotion-like and correlating this to neural activity
Greece
- Sophia Frangou, US-based neuroscientist researching the pathophysiological processes underlying psychosis
- Nancy Papalopulu, UK-based neuroscientist researching how the timing of neurogenesis is regulated during vertebrate development
Hungary
- Elizabeth Roboz Einstein, biochemist and neuroscientist known for purifying and characterizing myelin basic protein
India
- T. S. Kanaka, Asia's first female neurosurgeon
- Sandhya Koushika, neuroscientist focusing on regulation of axonal transport within nerve cells
- Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath, neuroscientist focused on the study of brain related disorders
- M. V. Padma Srivastava, neurologist, medical academic and writer known for the Acute Stroke Programme
- Shubha Tole, neuroscientist investigating the development and evolution of the mammalian brain
- Vidita Vaidya, neuroscientist researching molecular psychiatry and the neurocircuitry of emotion
- Shashi Wadhwa, known for anatomy and developmental neuroscience
Ireland
- Eleanor Maguire, researching episodic memory in the context of wider cognition
- Mary Reilly, neurologist studying peripheral neuropathy
Israel
- Daphna Joel, behavioural neuroscientist
- Daniela Schiller, known for work on memory reconsolidation
- Hermona Soreq, known for the signaling of acetylcholine and its relevance in stress responses and neurodegenerative diseases
- Asya Rolls is an Israeli psychoneuroimmunologist exploring how the nervous system affects immune responses and thus physical health.
Italy
- Silvia De Marchi, first graduated woman in Italy with a thesis in experimental psychology under the supervision of Vittorio Benussi.
- Maria Luisa Gorno-Tempini, neuroscientist focusing on behavioral neurology, particularly the neural substrate of language and memory
- Rita Levi-Montalcini, Nobel laureate for her work in neurobiology
- Raffaella Rumiati, cognitive neuroscientist
- Maria Grazia Spillantini, researching the mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration
- Camilla Bellone is an Italian neuroscientist exploring the molecular mechanisms and neural circuits underlying social behavior and probes how defects at the molecular and circuit level give rise to psychiatric disease states
- Daniela Perani is an Italian neurologist and neuroscientist exploring the functional and molecular mechanisms and the neural circuits of cognition and behaviour and the alteration in neurodegenerative disease
Japan
- Noriko Osumi, specializing in neuroembryology and developmental neuroscience to reveal the scheme of human mind in terms of brain development
Kazakhstan
- Alexandra Elbakyan, known for creating the Sci-Hub
Lebanon
- Huda Zoghbi, Lebanese-American geneticist known for research in the Rett syndrome and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1
Lithuania
- Urtė Neniškytė, researching the interaction of neurons and immune cells in the brain
Netherlands
- Astrid Linthorst, neuroscientist specializing in the neurochemistry and neuroendocrinology of stress and behavior
- Sabine Spijker, neuroscientist researching the effect of neuropsychiatric ailments on cognition
- Eveline Crone, professor of cognitive neuroscience and developmental psychology, known for her work on the function of risky behaviours in pubertal adolescents
New Zealand
- Marianne Fillenz, Romanian-born New Zealand neuroscientist known for research on he physiology of the autonomic nervous system
- Jenny Morton, neurobiologist specializing in neurodegenerative diseases
Norway
- Siri Leknes, neuroscientist known for directing he Leknes Affective Brain Lab
- May-Britt Moser, psychologist, neuroscientist and Nobel laureate known for work on grid cells
- Kristine Beate Walhovd, psychologist and neuroscientist researching lifespan changes in brain and cognition
Pakistan
- Aafia Siddiqui, neuroscientist convicted of seven counts of attempted murder and assault of US personnel
Poland
- Łucja Frey, neurologist known for describing the auriculotemporal nerve syndrome, now widely known as "Frey's syndrome"
- Małgorzata Kossut, neuroscientist specializing in neuroplasticity and neural mechanisms of learning and memory
- Liliana Lubińska, neuroscientist known for her research on the peripheral nervous system and her discovery of bidirectional axoplasmic transport
- Irena Nalepa, neuroscientist, pharmacologist and biochemist
- Nathalie Zand, neurologist known for studying the choroid plexus and publishing Les plexus choroïdes: Anatomie, physiologie, pathologie
Portugal
- Hanna Damasio, neuroscientist using brain imaging methods, such as computerized tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance for investigating brain diseases
- Paula Isabel da Silva Moreira, neuroscientist known for discoveries concerning mitochondrial oxidation in Alzheimer's disease
Romania
- Marianne Fillenz, known for investigating the physiology of the autonomic nervous system
Russia
- Natalia Bekhtereva, neuroscientist and psychologist known for developing neurophysiological approaches to psychology
- Svetlana Dambinova, neuroscientists known for her research on glutamate receptors
- Angelina Guskova, neurologist, neurosurgeon and radiation protection expert
- Ol'ga Leonova, embryologist and physician known for work on congenital disorders and the connection between central nervous system damage and eye disease
- Taisiya Sergeevna Osintseva, neurologist interested in chronic feral nidal infections of the nervous system
- Tatiana Rosenthal, psychoanalyst, physician and specialist in neurology
- Olga Vinogradova, cognitive neuroscientist
South Africa
- Frances Ames, neurologist, psychiatrist, and human rights activist who studied the effects of cannabis on the brain
South Korea
- Gloria Choi, neuroscientist studying maternal immune activation models of autism spectrum disorder
Spain
- Susana Martinez-Conde, neuroscientist and science writer investigating how our brains create perceptual and cognitive illusions
- Carmen Sandi, research into the neurobiological mechanisms of how stress alters the brain
Sweden
- Annica Dahlström, neuroscientist with a research focus on how nerve cells store and transport signals
- Isabelle Dussauge, cognitive neuroscientist who co.founded the NeuroGenderings Networl
- Mouna Esmaeilzadeh, Iranian-Swedish neuroscientist and entrepreneur known for her longevity clinic using genetic analyses as part of advanced health check-ups on her patients
- Pam Fredman, neuroscientist, president of the International Association of Universities
Switzerland
- Silvia Arber, neurobiologist investigating the mechanisms involved in the function and assembly of neuronal circuits controlling motor behaviour
- Jocelyne Bloch, neuroscientist investigating deep brain stimulation and brain repair for movement disorders
- Victoria Chan-Palay, Singaporean-born Swiss neuroscientist, founder of the journal Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders
- Anelis Kaiser, neuroscientist exploring the influence of heteronormative notions of sexual orientation
- Melanie Greter, neuroimmunologist studying the ontogeny of microglia and border-associated macrophages
- Aude Billard, physicist and computational neuroscientist creating machine learning algorithms to develop models of machine learning in humans
United Kingdom
- Ingrid Allen, known for research into neurodegradation
- Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, research into the perception of causality in the human brain
- Gemma Calvert, researching multisensory brain systems and how the power of the subconscious brain affects marketing
- Helen Cassaday, neuroscientist investigating the underlying biology of associative learning processes
- Nicola Clayton, psychologist specializing in comparative cognition
- Hannah Critchlow, neuroscientist with a research focus on cellular and molecular neuroscience
- Iroise Dumontheil, neuroscientist with a research focus on the social cognition and executive functions associated with the rostral prefrontal cortex
- Wendy Ewart, responsible for the development of the Medical Research Council's strategic plan
- Maria Fitzgerald, neuroscientist studying the developmental physiology and neurobiology of nociceptor circuits in the brain and spinal cord
- Sarah Garfinkel, neuroscientist studying the link between interoception and the brain
- Alison Goate, known for studying the genetics of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
- Usha Goswami, neuroscientist investigating the neural basis of developmental dyslexia, of speech and language impairments, and of rhythmic motor behaviour
- Susan Greenfield, Baroness Greenfield, scientist, writer and broadcaster with a research focus on he treatment of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases
- Francesca Happé, cognitive neuroscientist investigating autism spectrum conditions
- Julie M. Harris, psychologist who studies binocular vision, vision and animal patterning
- Christine Holt, developmental neuroscientist investigating the basic mechanisms pf the vertebrate brain
- Eve Johnstone, Scottish physician, clinical researcher, psychiatrist and academic investigating schizophrenia and psychotic illness
- Annette Karmiloff-Smith, cognitive neuroscientist known for research into Williams syndrome
- Tara Keck, neuroscientist investigating synaptic and homeostatic plasticity in the neocortex
- Jennifer S. Lund, anatomist focused on he organization of feedforward and feedback circuits in the neocortex
- Giovanna Mallucci, neuroscientist specializing in neurodegenerative diseases
- Ruth McKernan, neuroscientist known for her work on ligand-gated ion channels as well as for services to business and innovation
- Kathleen Montagu, first to identify dopamine in the human brain
- Freda Newcombe, clinical neuropsychologist playing a pivotal role in the development of cognitive neuropsychology
- Karalyn Patterson, specialist in cognitive neuropsychology
- Gina Rippon, research involving the application of brain imaging techniques, particularly electroencephalography and magnetoencephalography
- Katya Rubia, neuroscientist best known for her work in child cognitive neuroscience and neuropsychiatry
- Barbara Sahakian, known for her contributions to psychopharmacology, neuroethics, neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry and neuroimaging
- Sophie Scott, neuroscientist investigating the cognitive neuroscience of voices, speech and laughter
- Aditi Shankardass, clinical work using electroencephalogram recordings of the brain to diagnose developmental disorders in children
- Maria Grazia Spillantini, neuroscientist noted for identifying the protein alpha-synuclein as the major component of Lewy bodies
- Tara Spires-Jones, neuroscientists studying synapse degeneration and resilience in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases
- Susan Standring, experimental neurobiologist, writer and researcher
- Karen Steel, geneticist studying the genetics behind deafness, mainly focusing on the genetics of mice
- Sarah Tabrizi, British-Iranian neurologist and neuroscientist in the field of neurodegeneration
- Kathleen Taylor, neuroscientist with a focus on physiology, psychology and the neuroscience of belief
- Irene Tracey, research focused on the neuroscience of pain perception and analgesia
- Anne Treisman, cognitive psychologist researching visual attention, object perception, and memory
- Angela Vincent, known for research in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, cellular immunology and intracellular neurophysiology
- Elizabeth Warrington, neuropsychologist specialised in the study of dementia
- Heather Whalley, psychiatrist with a research focus on the mechanisms underlying the development of major psychiatric disorders
- Emma Yhnell, neuroscientists with a research focus on Huntington's disease
Turkey
Y
- Nilay Yapici is a neuroscientist at Cornell University who studies the neural circuits underlying decision making and feeding behavior in fruit fly models to pave the way towards an understanding of how to target and treat obesity and eating disorders in patients.
United States
- Susan Ackerman, neuroscientist and geneticist known for investigating genetic and biochemical factors behind the central nervous system
- Elizabeth Adkins-Regan, comparative behavioural neuroendocrinologist known for research on the hormonal and neural mechanisms of reproductive behaviour
- Huda Akil, Syrian-American neuroscientist focusing on the neurobiology of emotions
- Susan Amara, neuroscientist focusing on the parts of the brain activated by the effects of addictive drugs
- Nancy Coover Andreasen, neuroscientist and neuropsychiatrist known for developing the concept of negative symptoms in schizophrenia
- Anne M. Andrews, neuroscientist focused on the neurochemistry of the brain's serotonin system
- Amy Arnsten, neuroscientist focused on the molecular mechanisms behind the higher cortical circuits governing cognition
- Ream Al-Hasani, British-born American neuroscientist and pharmacologist studying endogenous opioids in addiction, pain, and affective disorders
- Kristin Baldwin, neuroecientist focusing on reprogrammed and induced pluripotent stem cells to study the epigenetic changes of the genome and brain
- Tracy Bale, neuroscientist and molecular biologist focusing on parental prenatal stress and its effect on offspring
- Cornelia Bargmann, neurobiologist known for her work on the genetic and neural circuit mechanisms of behavior using C. elegans
- Carol A. Barnes, neuroscientist focusing on the neurophysiological and behavioral changes that occur in the brain during ageing
- Lisa Feldman Barrett, psychologist and neuroscientist studying emotion, known for How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain
- Susan R. Barry, neurobiologist and physician known for her Fixing My Gaze: A Scientist's Journey into Seeing in Three Dimensions
- Danielle Bassett, physicist and systems neuroscientist applying network science to the study of learning in the human brain
- Amy Bastian, neuroscientist contributing to the neuroscience of sensorimotor control
- Diana Bautista, neuroscientist known for her work on the molecular mechanisms underlying itch, touch and pain
- Elaine Bearer, neuroscientist, pathologist and composer, recent research on magnetic resonance imaging of neural connections and brain activity in transgenic mouse models of human disorders
- Marlene Behrmann, psychologist specializing in the cognitive neuroscience of visual perception
- Ursula Bellugi, German-American neuroscientist researching the biological bases of language
- April A. Benasich, neuroscientist known for research on the early neural processes necessary for normal cognitive and language development
- Joanne Berger-Sweeney, neuroscientist researching the neurobiology of learning and memory, with applications to neurodevelopmental disorders
- Heather A. Berlin neuroscientist noted for her work in science communication and outreach
- Mayim Bialik, actress, author and neuroscientist
- Eliza Bliss-Moreau, neuroscientist focusing on the biology of emotions in humans and animals
- Brenda Bloodgood, neuroscientist studying synaptic plasticity
- Jill Bolte Taylor, neuroanatomist, author, and inspirational public speaker, known for studying severe mental illnesses and her My Stroke of Insight, A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey
- Susan Y. Bookheimer, neuroscientist known for her work developing brain imaging techniques to help patients with Alzheimer's and related disease
- Nancy Bonini, neuroscientist and geneticist, known for pioneering the use of Drosophila to study neurodegeneration of the human brain
- Mary Brazier, British-born American neuroscientist known for her fundamental contributions to the study of EEG changes in anesthesia
- Louann Brizendine, neuroscientist researching women's moods and hormones
- Katja Brose, neuroscientist known for identifying the receptor Robo and its ligand Slit as a new family of axon guidance molecule
- Linda B. Buck, Nobel laureate, best known for her work on the olfactory system
- Mary Bartlett Bunge, neuroscientist researching a cure for paralysis
- Staci Bilbo, neuroimmunologist studying how early immune activation causes neuroimmune dysregulation contributing to brain-related disease in adulthood
- Patricia Carpenter, neuroscientist focusing on the organization of the cognitive systems in immediate thought
- C. Sue Carter, biologist and behavioral neurobiologist specializing in behavioral neuroendocrinology
- Vivien Casagrande, neuroscientist known for her research on understanding how the visual thalamus and cortex interact to construct our perceptual world
- Constance Cepko, neuroscientist researching retroviral vectors in studying the development of the retina
- Anne Churchland, neuroscientist studying the function of the posterior parietal cortex in cognitive processes
- Patricia Churchland, Canadian-American philosopher focusing on the interface between neuroscience and philosophy
- Martha Constantine-Paton, neuroscientist focusing on synaptic plasticity and brain development, particularly visual development
- Suzanne Corkin, neuroscientist best known for her research on human memory, which she studied in patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amnesia
- Jacqueline Crawley, neuroscientist known for developing tests including the three-compartment test to evaluate mouse social behaviour
- Molly J. Crockett, neuroscientist studying the role of neurotransmitters on decision-making
- Elizabeth C. Crosby, neuroanatomist known for her outstanding contributions to comparative and human neuroanatomy
- Meaghan Creed, neuroscientists known for pioneering research into understanding and applying deep brain stimulation to treat brain related diseases
- Jessica Cardin, neuroscientist studying local circuits within the primary visual cortex to understand how cellular and synaptic interactions flexibly adapt to different behavioral states and contexts to give rise to visual perceptions and drive motivated behaviors.
- Merit Cudkowicz, is a Neurologist, Neuroscientist, and leading world expert in the study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- Mary Fenner Dallman, neuroendocrinologist known for elucidating function along the hypothalamic, pituitary, adrenal axis
- Hanna Damasio, neuroscientist known for using brain imaging methods, such as computerized tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance for diagnosing brain diseases
- Muriel Davisson, geneticist known for developing the Down syndrome mouse model Ts65Dn
- Valina L. Dawson, neuroscientist researching the molecular mechanisms that lead to neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative diseases
- Adele Diamond, neuroscientist investigating how executive functions are affected by biological and environmental factors, especially in children
- Marian Diamond, pioneering scientist and educator considered to be one of the founders of modern neuroscience
- Lindsay M. De Biase, explores the diversity of microglia that exist within the basal ganglia circuitry to one day target regional or circuit-specific microglia in disease.
- Zoe R. Donaldson, American neuroscientist exploring the neurobiological and genetic mechanisms of social bonding and social behavior in rodents.
- Gillian Einstein, neuroscientist focusing on the anatomy of the female brain
- Lise Eliot, neuroscientist known for her book on gender differences, Pink Brain, Blue Brain: How Small Differences Grow into Troublesome Gaps and What We Can Do About It
- Iryna Ethell, neuroscientist studying glia cells' components such as microglias, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes
- Eva Feldman, neurologist contributing to various areas of research including the diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy and the application of stem cell therapy for treating human diseases such as Alzheimer's
- Shelly Flagel, behavioral neuroscientist studying the individual differences in addiction and impulse control disorders, reward learning, and motivated behaviour neurobiology
- Alice Weaver Flaherty, neurologist researching how human brains represent their bodies in relation to depression, Parkinson's, and somatoform disorders
- Kathleen Gates neuroscientist and quantitative psychologist developing statistical methods for the analysis of intensive longitudinal data
- Lisa Genova, neuroscientist and writer known for her novel Still Alive about a professor with Alzheimer's disease
- Morton Ann Gernsbacher, neuroscientist specializing in autism and psycholinguistics
- Patricia Goldman-Rakic, first to discover and describe the circuitry of the prefrontal cortex and its relationship to working memory
- Lisa Goodrich, neurobiologist specializing in the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind the development of neural circuits
- Elizabeth Gould, neuroscientist focusing on adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus
- Patricia A. Grady, neuroscientist known for her books on hypertension, cerebrovascular permeability, vascular stress, and cerebral edema
- Ann Graybiel, neuroscientist specializing on the basal ganglia and the neurophysiology of habit formation
- Carla Green, neurobiologist and chronobiologist studying studies the molecular mechanism of circadian rhythms in mammals
- Kalanit Grill-Spector neuroscientist studying the structure and function of the human visual system with MRI
- Lisa Gunaydin, neuroscientist who helped discover and specializes in optogenetic technology
- Erin M. Gibson, is a glial and circadian biologist studying the molecular mechanisms by which the circadian rhythm modulates glial biology
- Michelle Gray, is a leading neurobiologist in the study of the biological basis of Huntington's Disease, with a focus on neuron-glia interactions in HD.
- Sandra M. Garraway, is an American neuroscientist who studies the neural mechanisms of spinal nociceptive pain after spinal cord injury
- Melina Hale, neuroscientist studying zebrafish to understand how the brain communicates with muscles to generate movement
- , neuroscientist studying the structure and function of synapses using 3D-electron microscopy
- Mary Hatten, neuroscientist researching how neurons migrate in the brain
- Kiralee Hayashi actress, stuntwoman, gymnast and scientist who co-authored Brain surface parameterization using Riemann surface structure
- Rachel Sarah Herz, psychologist and a cognitive neuroscientist known as an expert on the psychology of smell
- Melissa Hines, neuroscientist studying the development of gender and how the interaction of prenatal and postnatal experience shapes brain development and behaviour
- Susan Hockfield, neuroscientist known for pioneering the use of monoclonal antibody technology in brain research
- Julianne Holt-Lunstad, psychologist and neuroscientist focusing on the long-term health effects of social connections and loneliness
- Yasmin Hurd, neuroscientist studying addiction in people and animal models including changes caused by cannabis
- Dorothea Jameson, cognitive psychologist known for her contribution to the field of colour and vision
- Lily Jan, Chinese-American neuroscientist known for breakthroughs in neurogenesis and cell fate specification and for studying ion channels
- Patricia Janak, psychologist and neuroscientist contributing to the biological basis of behaviour in the context of associative learning
- Charlene Drew Jarvis, scientific researcher and politician
- Amishi Jha, psychologist and neuroscientist showing how mindfulness training improves numerous aspects of both cognitive and emotional health
- Theresa A. Jones, neuroscientist focusing on neural plasticity across the lifespan synaptic connectivity in adult animals following brian damage during skill learning
- Nancy Kanwisher, cognitive neuroscientist known for discovering the fusiform face area and the arahippocampal place area
- JacSue Kehoe, neuroscientist studying the neurons of Aplysia californica and the post-synaptic nerve response
- Ann E. Kelley, neuroscientist specialized in the neuroscience of reward and behavior
- Mary B. Kennedy, biochemist and neuroscientist focusing on the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity
- Catherine Kerr, neuroscientist investigating the effects of body-based attention practices such as Tai Chi and mindfulness on the brain and nervous system
- Kristen Knutson, neurologist known for research into the mortality rates of evening and morning types
- Nancy Kopell, mathematician known from applying mathematical models to analyze the physiological mechanisms of brain dynamics
- Nina Kraus, neuroscientist investigating the neural encoding of speech and music and its plasticity
- Mary Jeanne Kreek, neurobiologist specializing in the study and treatment of addiction
- Leah Krubitzer, neuroscientist investigating how complex brains in mammals evolve from simpler forms
- Patricia K. Kuhl, neuroscientist investigating early language and brain development and how young children learn
- Marta Kutas cognitive neuroscientist known for discovering the N400, an event-related potential component typically elicited by unexpected linguistic stimuli
- Story Landis neurobiologist and former director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health
- Lynn T. Landmesser, biological scientist known for developmental neuroscience research, particularly relating to the spinal cord and the formation of spinal motor circuits
- Jerre Levy, psychologist and neuroscientist studying the relationship between the cerebral hemispheres and visual-oriented versus language-oriented tasks
- Christiane Linster, Luxembourg-American behavioural neuroscientist known for research into neuromodulation relating to learning and memory
- Judy Liu, neuroscientist working on cortical malformations causing epilepsy
- Margaret Livingstone, neurobiologist known for her book Vision and Art: The Biology of Seeing
- Jeanne Loring, development neurobiologist and geneticist studying several fields including the genomics and epigenetics of pluripotent stem cells
- Victoria Luine, psychologist, neurochemist and writer
- Misha Mahowald, computational neuroscientist working in the field of neuromorphic engineering
- Eve Marder, neuroscientist known for her work on neural circuits in the crustacean stomatogastric nervous system
- Deborah Mash, neurologist interested in the addiction-stopping capabilities of ibogaine
- Mara Mather, psychologist researching ageing with a focus on the effect of emotion and stress on memory
- Helen S. Mayberg, neurologist known for delineating abnormal brain function in patients with major depression using functional neuroimaging
- Susan McConnell, neurobiologist studying the development of neural circuits in the mammalian cerebral cortex
- Louise McCullough, neurologist engaged in stroke research
- Ann McKee, neuropathologist and expert in neurodegenerative disease
- Edith Graef McGeer, neuroscientist known for studying the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases
- BethAnn McLaughlin, neurologist researching neural stress responses and brain injury
- Sara Mednick, psychologist researching the relationship between napping and performance
- Vivienne Ming, theoretical neuroscientist and Artificial Intelligence expert
- Nancy Minshew, psychiatrist and neurologist known for work on the cognitive, neurological, and genetic bases of autism
- Michelle Monje, neurologist investigating the molecular mechanisms for neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity
- Lisa Monteggia, neuroscientists investigating molecular mechanisms underlying neurotrophin interactions with antidepressants
- Bita Moghaddam, Iranian-American neuroscientist investigating the neuronal processes underlying emotion and cognition as a first step to designing strategies to treat and prevent brain illnesses
- Elly Nedivi, neuroscientist known for investigating the molecular mechanisms of neuroplasticity
- Helen Neville, neuroscientist known for investigating human brain development, including neuroplasticity and neurolinguistics
- Sharlene Newman, cognitive neuroscientists known for her work in neuroimaging, using magnetic resonance imaging techniques to study complex brain function
- Mary Lawson Neff, neurologist remembered for investigating the effects of fatigue on mental and emotional health
- Sheila Nirenberg neuroscientist working on neural coding and the development of prosthetic devices able to communicate directly with the brain
- Loraine Obler, neuroscientist
- Kathie L. Olsen, neuroscientist noted for her work in scientific policy
- Audrey S. Penn, neurologist known for research in the biochemistry of muscle weakness in myasthenia gravis
- Susan Perlman, neurologist and neurogeneticist investigating Friedreich's ataxia
- Candace Pert, neuroscientist and pharmacologist known for discovering the opiate receptor, the cellular binding site for endorphins in the brain
- Laura-Ann Petitto, cognitive neuroscientist known for her neurolinguistics research, including work on the language capacity of chimpanzees
- Marina Picciotto, neuroscientist known for her work on the role of nicotine in addiction, memory, and reward behaviours
- Nicole Prause, neuroscientist researching human sexual behaviour, addiction, and the physiology of sexual response
- Caroline Palavicino-Maggio neuroscientist exploring how gene expression in amine neurons and neural circuits leads to changes in social behavior, specifically aggression, in Drosophila.
- Gina Poe neuroscientist studying sleep and how neural activity during REM sleep is crucial to memory and learning.
- Priya Rajasethupathy, neuroscientist researching memory development over time by observing and manipulating neural circuitry
- Isabelle Rapin, Swiss-American neurologist and paediatrician remembered for her contributions to the understanding of autism and language disorders
- Judith L. Rapoport, psychiatrist known for studying the clinical phenomenology, neurobiology, and treatment of Childhood Onset Schizophrenia
- Brenda Rapp neuroscientist and editor of Cognitive Neuropsychology, known for research into written word production and dysgraphia
- Linda Restifo, neuroscientist studying the changes in brain development leading to cognitive disorders
- Barbara Rothbaum, psychologist and pioneer in the treatment of anxiety-related disorders
- Vanessa Ruta, neuroscientist known for investigating chemosensory circuits behind innate and learned behaviours in the fly Drosophila melanogaster
- Carolyn I. Rodriguez, neuroscientist and psychiatrist developing rapid therapies for OCD and hoarding disorder.
- Eleanor Saffran, neuroscientist known as a researcher in the field of cognitive neuropsychology
- Cara Santa Maria, science communicator and psychologist
- Rebecca Saxe, cognitive neuroscientist working on theory of mind, the plasticity of the cortex and the neural substrates of empathy, and emotion attribution
- Amita Sehgal, cell and molecular neuroscientist working on circadian rhythms and sleep
- Dorothy P. Schafer, neurobiologist focusing on the role of microglia in the development of synapses and brain circuits
- Carla J. Shatz, one of the pioneers who determined some of the basic principles of early brain development
- Erin M. Schuman, neurobiologist studying neuronal synapses
- Rosalind A. Segal, neurobiologist studying the how disruption of the mammalian brain leads to the formation of brain malignancies
- Carla J. Shatz, early female neurobiologist who determined some of the basic principles of brain development
- Pamela Sklar, psychiatrist and neuroscientist known for large-scale gene discovery studies in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
- Esther Somerfeld-Ziskind, neurologist and psychiatrist known for pioneering research into the use of insulin, lithium, and electroconvulsive therapy for treating psychiatric disorders
- Tara Spires-Jones, neuroscientist focusing on the degeneration of synapse connections between neuronal braincells in Alzheimer's disease
- Beth Stevens, neuroscientist known for work on the role of microglia and complement proteins in the removal of synaptic cells during brain development
- Wendy Suzuki, neuroscientist researching neuroplasticity and how the brain is able to change and adapt over the course of a person's life
- Susan Swedo neuroscientist conducting research on the causes and treatment of pediatric neuropsychiatric disorders
- Anne Schaefer, neuroscientist and neuroimmunologist who investigates the epigenetic mechanisms of cellular plasticity and their role in the regulation of microglia-neuron interactions.
- Carsen Stringer, computational neuroscientist and Group Leader at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus. Stringer uses machine learning and deep neural networks to visualize large scale neural recordings and then probe the neural computations that give rise to visual processing in mice.
- Viviane Tabar, neurosurgeon researching stem cell biology and strategies for cell-based therapies for the repair of radiation-induced brain injury
- Paula Tallal, neuroscientist researching dyslexia and other word encoding disorders
- Carol Tamminga, psychiatrist and neuroscientist focusing on treating psychotic illnesses, such as schizophrenia, psychotic bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder
- Jill Bolte Taylor, neuroanatomist who wrote My Stroke of Insight
- Sally Temple, neuroscientist focusing on neural stem cells and therapies related to eye, brain, and spinal cord disorders
- Sujata Tewari, Indian-American neuroscientist known for her work demonstrating that chronic alcohol consumption inhibits protein metabolism in the brains of mice
- Doris Tsao, systems neuroscientist known for pioneering fMRI with single-unit electrophysiological recordings and for discovering the macaque face patch system for face perception
- Gina G. Turrigiano, neuroscientist researching cortical networks and stromograstic network function
- Kay Tye, neuroscientist focusing on optogenetics for identifying connections in the brain involved in innate emotion, motivation and social behaviours
- Malú G. Tansey is a neuroscientist investigating the role of neuroimmune interactions in the development and progression of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disease.
- Leslie Ungerleider, experimental psychologist and neuroscientist known for introducing the concepts of the dorsal and ventral streams
- Ashley Van Zeeland, neuroscientist focusing on genomics, genetics, and biotechnology in the fields of autism and anorexia nervosa
- Joan Venes neurosurgeon known for helping to develop the practice of neurosurgery in children
- Nora Volkow, Mexican-American psychiatrist and neuroscientist conducting imaging studies of the brains of people addicted to drugs
- Leslie B. Vosshall, neurobiologist known for contributions to olfaction, particularly the discovery and characterization of the insect olfactory receptor family
- Joni Wallis, neurophysiologist investigating how the frontal cortex of the brain is functionally organized to help people set and attain goals at the level of single neurons
- Jade Wang, computer programmer and neuroscientist known as co-founder of the open source project Sandstorm
- Heather Williams, ornithologist known for her book Behavioral neurobiology of birdsong
- Rachel Wilson, neurobiologist working in the fields of electrophysiology, neuropharmacology, molecular genetics and functional anatomy
- Catherine Woolley )born 1965), neuroendocrinologist studying cellular and molecular neuroscience in relation to the brain and behaviour
- Sarah M. N. Woolley, neuroscientist studying the neuroscience of communication, using songbirds to understand how the brain learns and understands vocal communication
- Ilana B. Witten studies the midbrain dopaminergic reward circuitry, with a focus on the striatal neural circuit mechanisms driving reward learning and decision making.
- Anne B. Young physician and neuroscientist working on neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease
- Phyllis Zee, neurologist researching basic and translational sleep and circadian rhythm
- Huda Zoghbi, Lebanese-born American geneticist currently studying MECP2 and discovering that overexpressing the protein in mice led to an autism-like neurological disorder