Which term refers to the study of the brain and nervous system?

• A. Cognition
• B. Neurodevelopment
• C. Pruning
• D. Neuroscience

Answer: (D)

Neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system in all its aspects—structure, function, development, chemistry, and pathology—across different levels from neurons and synapses to networks that underlie behavior. This broad, defining scope is what makes it the best choice for describing the field that investigates the brain and nervous system as a whole.

Cognition, by contrast, focuses on mental processes like memory, problem solving, and perception rather than the entire nervous system. Neurodevelopment refers specifically to how the nervous system forms and changes over time, not the overall field of study. Pruning is a particular developmental process where synapses are eliminated, not a field of study.