This forum aims to discuss the place and position of basic research towards solving the mysteries of the brain

Unlocking the mysteries of the brain poses as the ultimate frontier to our pursuits in life sciences. Over the last several decades, neuroscientists have attempted to understand the neural architecture underlying complex cognitive processes ranging from sensation and perception to memory and consciousness. Basic (or fundamental) research thus far has been critical to this endeavor providing several important insights into brain function.

However, contemporary society witnesses a rapid technological evolution, and brings with it several challenges. Unlocked ability to manage big data through sophisticated machine learning algorithms impresses itself on media and receives political attention. As policy makers might be inclined to believe that new technological solutions could provide answers to neuroscientific questions, we witness a rapid erosion of basic research due to insufficient public support.

The wellbeing of modern society is grounded on many fundamental biomedical discoveries. Be it electrodes developed for neurophysiological investigations in animals, finding their use for deep brain stimulation for patients of Parkinson’s disease, or studies of bacterial opsins forming the backbone of optogenetic tools currently popular in neuroscientific research. Therefore, one could expect that without progress in basic research, even the current technological revolution would eventually fade. Alternatively, the latter could be self-sufficient and independent of the former, providing us with a framework, complex and suitable for investigating neuroscientific questions.