Mind Brain Behavior Interfaculty Initiative

Mind Brain Behavior Interfaculty Initiative. The Mind Brain Behavior Interfaculty Initiative is a major cross-disciplinary research and academic consortium at Harvard University. Established to bridge the study of neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy of mind, it fosters collaboration among dozens of faculty and spans numerous schools including the Harvard Medical School and Harvard Law School. The initiative supports groundbreaking research, funds innovative projects, and offers educational programs aimed at understanding the biological basis of cognition and behavior.

Overview

The initiative serves as a central hub for integrating diverse methodologies from molecular biology to cognitive science and computational modeling. Its mission is to tackle fundamental questions about consciousness, decision-making, and neural circuitry by leveraging the resources of one of the world's premier research institutions. Core activities include sponsoring symposia, awarding fellowships like the MBB Scholar program, and maintaining close ties with affiliated centers such as the Center for Brain Science at Harvard University. This structure encourages dialogue between experts in fields as varied as neuroethics, evolutionary biology, and artificial intelligence.

History and establishment

The Mind Brain Behavior Interfaculty Initiative was formally launched in 1993 under the leadership of then-Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine. It emerged from a growing recognition within the Harvard Corporation and the broader academic community of the need to break down traditional barriers between disciplines studying the mind. Early influential figures included neuroscientist Steven E. Hyman, who later directed the National Institute of Mental Health, and psychologist Marc Hauser. The initiative's founding was contemporaneous with the "Decade of the Brain" proclamation by U.S. President George H. W. Bush, reflecting a national surge of interest in brain research.

Academic programs and research

The initiative does not grant degrees itself but profoundly influences graduate and undergraduate education through affiliated programs. It supports the Harvard PhD Program in Neuroscience, which involves faculty from the Harvard Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Harvard Department of Neurobiology. A flagship offering is the MBB Track within the Harvard College AB curriculum, allowing undergraduates to explore intersections of mind, brain, and behavior. Research thrusts have included major projects on neurodegeneration, the neural basis of language, and moral psychology, often utilizing facilities like the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center and collaborating with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Participating faculty and departments

Participation spans a vast network across Harvard University's schools. Key faculty have included Nobel laureates like Linda B. Buck from Fred Hutchinson and Harvard Medical School, philosopher Ned Block from New York University, and legal scholar Martha Minow of Harvard Law School. Primary academic units involved are the Harvard Department of Psychology, the Harvard Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, and the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The initiative also draws from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Divinity School, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, creating a uniquely comprehensive intellectual community.

Impact and notable contributions

The initiative has catalyzed significant scientific advances and public discourse. Its researchers have contributed to understanding genetic links to psychiatric disorders, advanced neuroimaging techniques, and explored the legal implications of neuroscience in courts, influencing debates at the Supreme Court of the United States. It has hosted renowned speakers like V.S. Ramachandran and supported work that informs policies at the National Institutes of Health. By fostering collaborations that resulted in publications in journals like *Nature* and *Science*, the initiative has solidified Harvard University's position at the forefront of interdisciplinary brain and behavior research.

Category:Harvard University Category:Neuroscience organizations Category:Interdisciplinary research