Charting the Structure of Neuroscience.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Scientific Meetings

Background:

• Understanding the research interests of neuroscientists is crucial for advancing the field.
• The annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience is a key event for showcasing current research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the primary research interests of neuroscientists.
• To map the landscape of current neuroscience research topics.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of attendee itineraries from the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting.
• Clustering of commonly co-attended topics to visualize research trends.

Main Results:

• Identified distinct clusters representing common research themes in neuroscience.
• Highlighted 'empty spaces' between topic clusters, indicating potential areas for future research.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a novel visualization of neuroscience research interests.
• Identified gaps in current research may guide future scientific endeavors and collaborations.