Pan-European organisations call for an advanced understanding of the human brain

A new strategic report, The Human Brain – From Cells to Society, Toward Better Mental Health in Europe, has been published today by the European Science Foundation (ESF).

The aim of the report is to provide a framework for the discussion of future research and practice in light of the changes occurring in our understanding of the human brain. The authors write: “understanding brain function is not only of use to medicine – it is important for all aspects of individual health and wellbeing. Many psychiatric disorders are known to begin during childhood and adolescence, at a time when brain plasticity is also critically important to learning and socialisation, for instance.”

The personal and societal burden of disorders in the brain is alarmingly high and still increasing.” said Marian Joëls, president of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies. She continued: “In line with the recommendations in the current report, making the next step towards novel treatment strategies requires a joint effort from clinical and basic neuroscientists in coordination with many other neuroscience disciplines. It is however important also to stress that the healthy brain is crucial for so many aspects of our daily life. Capturing the full spectrum of brain function will truly allow us to understand why investing in brain research is such a unique opportunity to improve our overall quality of life.”