Why Neuroscience

We all live in a world full of people we care about. Each of these people has a brain. When I see how the ones I love are affected by symptoms and diseases, I want to better understand neuroscience. It helps me figure out why they struggle and what I can do. This drives me to explore this fascinating and oftentimes enlightening science. Whether it’s about neurodegenerative diseases or neurodevelopmental disorders, I see these challenges all around me. Another important aspect is that I want to stand a chance against Alzheimer’s disease myself. My father suffered from Alzheimer’s, and that was a major barrier to possible treatments in his final days.

I’ve been intrigued by complexity and complexity science for many years. The brain is the body’s most complex organ, as professor Leonard White often reminded us. If you know anything about human cells and their capabilities, you can then appreciate how intricate the whole brain is. Neuroscience is a wonderful field for anyone interested in complexity and its real-world effects.

As I learn more about neuroscience, I realize that many important concepts are not well-known. Some of them being fundamental in Neuroscience (like neuroplasticity). Some myths need clarification so people can understand them. Grasping certain specific concepts can greatly benefit everyone in their daily lives. This is why I write about neuroscience: to help people understand the things that matter from Neuroscience. It also deepens my own understanding by explaining it to others. If we don’t understand something, it’s hard to take action.

My name is Johan Wastring and my main training in NeuroScience comes from the Medical Neuroscience course taught by Professor Leonard White at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, US. I earned my certificate on June 13, 2025. A proud moment for me since I initially started the course to prove to myself that I actually can learn anything, if I am persistent enough. You can reach me at johan@understandingneuroscience.com.

Normally, I work as a designer at an international data and analytics company. My days involve product experience analytics, future projects, and managing user insights.