The story of women in science is being rewritten, one neuron at a time.
Imagine a world where half the population is overlooked in research meant to heal everyone. This is not a dystopian fiction but a historical reality in neuroscience. For decades, our understanding of the brain—from its fundamental biology to its response to treatment—was built on studies that predominantly used male subjects, creating a scientific blind spot with profound implications for women's health 2 .
The European Journal of Neuroscience (EJN) has taken a bold stand against this disparity, launching a mission to increase the visibility and recognition of women in science 1 . This initiative, born from the sobering realization that public recognition of women scientists remains "absurdly low," seeks to shatter the silence beyond Marie Curie and bring the contributions of female neuroscientists into the spotlight they deserve 1 .
The gender gap in neuroscience operates on two interconnected fronts: the systematic underrepresentation of female subjects in research and the under-recognition of female scientists themselves.
A landmark analysis of neuroscience research published in 2017 revealed a troubling picture of sex bias and omission 2 . The study, which examined over 1,800 articles across leading journals, found that:
Parallel to the bias in research subjects is the under-recognition of women conducting the research. As the EJN editors noted, "After Marie Curie, few people can name a single other female scientist" 1 . Trailblazers like Rosalind Franklin or Barbara McClintock remain outside public consciousness despite their monumental contributions 1 .
This lack of recognition extends throughout academic careers. Female scientists are dramatically underrepresented in positions of power and status, and appear less frequently as first or last authors in high-impact journals—a critical metric for career advancement 8 .
| Category | Percentage of Studies | Key Findings |
|---|---|---|
| Sex Omission | 16% | Did not report sex of research subjects |
| Sole Use of Males | 26% | Significant overrepresentation |
| Sole Use of Females | 5% | Pronounced underrepresentation |
| Used Both Sexes | 52% | But only 15% assessed sex as a variable |
Source: Analysis of neuroscience research published in 2017 2
In response to this "unacceptable situation," the European Journal of Neuroscience launched 'Profiles of Women in Science' 1 . This feature series focuses on leading women scientists from EJN and its parent organization, the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) 1 .
The profiles go beyond traditional publication metrics to present a holistic view of scientific careers. They include:
This initiative represents a crucial step toward humanizing science and providing visible role models for the next generation of researchers.
The maternal immune activation (MIA) model provides a compelling case study of how sex bias manifests in specific research domains and why it matters 8 .
Researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of MIA studies published between 2000 and 2018, focusing on work that examined behavioral, neurotransmitter, and cytokine profiles in offspring 8 . After screening over 1,000 records, they identified 432 relevant manuscripts using various immune activation methods including Poly(I:C), LPS, and influenza virus 8 .
Sex Distribution in Maternal Immune Activation Studies (2000-2018) 8
The exclusion of female subjects from MIA research has significant scientific consequences. Sex-dependent vulnerabilities and responses to prenatal stress are known to shape an individual's risk for developing mental illness over their lifetime 8 . By focusing predominantly on males, researchers may be missing crucial sex-specific mechanisms that could inform more targeted and effective interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Despite the challenges, there are promising signs of change across the neuroscience landscape.
Neuroscience is increasingly recognizing the importance of diverse methodological approaches that can better account for individual differences. Single-subject experimental designs, for instance, are gaining traction as a complement to traditional group designs 4 .
These designs involve comparing experimental to control conditions repeatedly over time within the same individual, providing more finely-focused internal validity 4 . While they require systematic replication across individuals to establish external validity, they offer a powerful tool for identifying generalizable processes that account for within-population diversity—including sex differences 4 .
The recognition of outstanding female neuroscientists is also gaining momentum through prestigious awards and honors.
Dr. Michelle Monje was jointly awarded the Brain Prize—often described as "the Oscars of neuroscience"—for her groundbreaking work in cancer neuroscience 3 . Her research established the field by demonstrating how gliomas integrate into neural circuits, opening new therapeutic avenues for brain tumors 3 .
Dr. Casey Paquola received this honor in 2025 for her computational neuroscience research exploring brain development from birth through adulthood 6 . Her work on the Default Mode Network provides new insights into how external stimuli are translated into our inner world of thoughts 6 .
Research.com's 2025 ranking of the world's best female scientists highlights the exceptional contributions of women across all scientific disciplines, including neuroscience 9 .
| Award/Program | Focus | Recent Recipient & Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| The Brain Prize | Largest int'l award for brain research | Dr. Michelle Monje: Cancer neuroscience discoveries 3 |
| For Women in Science | Early-career researchers | Dr. Casey Paquola: Computational brain development models 6 |
| EJN Profiles | Career visibility & mentorship | Leading women scientists across FENS 1 |
Modern neuroscience relies on sophisticated tools and reagents to unravel the brain's complexity. Here are some key research solutions driving the field forward:
Used to investigate the chronic activation of the brain's immune system, particularly microglial behavior and pro-inflammatory cytokines that contribute to neuronal damage 5 .
Essential for studying the cellular recycling system that clears misfolded proteins and damaged organelles—processes crucial for understanding neurodegenerative diseases 5 .
Enable detection of abnormal protein folding and accumulation that characterize conditions like Alzheimer's (tau and amyloid-β) and Parkinson's (α-synuclein) 5 .
An emerging therapeutic strategy exploring proteasomal and lysosomal pathways to eliminate disease-associated proteins in neurodegenerative disorders 5 .
"If we could determine from a brain scan, at the first signs of a neurological or mental disorder, whether behavioral therapy will be more effective than medication—or vice versa—we'd greatly improve outcomes" 6 .
The European Journal of Neuroscience's mission represents more than a single initiative—it is part of a broader movement toward a more inclusive and rigorous neuroscience. This precision medicine approach requires understanding how brain disorders manifest differently across sexes, which begins with including both in basic research.
The future of neuroscience depends on embracing diversity in all its forms—from the subjects we study to the scientists we celebrate. By increasing the visibility of women in science and ensuring both sexes are represented in research, we move closer to a comprehensive understanding of the human brain that benefits everyone. As the EJN initiative demonstrates, sometimes the most profound scientific revolutions begin not with a new discovery, but with recognizing who has been missing from the conversation.
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