Neurochemists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Experts investigating the biochemical activities within the nervous system, particularly the effects of neurotransmitters on neural communication and overall brain operation
2. Professionals analyzing the chemical constituents of the nervous system to comprehend their influence on neuronal behavior and cognitive processes
3. Scientists who specialize in examining the chemical substances of the nervous system to understand brain functions

Etymology: "Neurochemists" is the plural of "neurochemist", a noun for a scientist who studies the chemistry of the nervous system. The singular was formed by back-formation from "neurochemistry", meaning the word for the field came first and the word for the practitioner was derived from it, working backwards. "Neurochemistry" is itself a compound built from "neuro-", from Greek "neuron" meaning sinew or nerve, and "chemistry", the study of substances and their reactions. Read together, the parts describe the field exactly: the chemistry of nerves and the brain.

Synonyms: brain chemists, neuroscientists, neurobiologists, psychopharmacologists, cognitive scientists