This year on International Women’s Day, we want to take a moment to shine a spotlight on some phenomenal women in neuroscience and psychology – women whose contributions have deepened our understanding of the amazing brain.
Dr Brenda Milner: The Memory Maestro
Dr Brenda Milner[1] made huge contributions to our understanding of how memory works in the brain, particularly the role of the hippocampus in memory. A pioneering neuropsychologist, Milner’s research with patient H.M. from the 1950s–1980s shaped modern cognitive neuroscience. She’s still working well into her 100s – yes, you read that right –continuing to inspire generations of scientists.
Dr Mamie Phipps Clark: The Psychologist Who Took on Segregation
Dr Mamie Phipps Clark and her husband Kenneth Clark conducted the groundbreaking “doll tests”[2] that revealed how segregation negatively affected Black children’s self-perception. Their research was pivotal in the Supreme Court decision that ultimately ended racial segregation in US schools. Mamie’s work didn’t stop at research – she also founded the Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem, supporting underserved children and families. If you're looking for historical psychologists who influenced social justice, Mamie is a name to remember.
Dr Suzana Herculano-Houzel: The Neuron Counter
Have you ever wondered how many neurons are in the human brain? (It's around 86 billion!) Well, neuroscientist Dr Suzana Herculano-Houzel[3] developed a revolutionary method to count them! Before her research, scientists had been overestimating the number of neurons, and her work led to new insights into the evolution of the human brain. Plus, she’s a proud autistic woman, and is passionate about making science accessible to everybody. Want to see more of her? Why not check out her fascinating TED talks on what makes the human brain so special [4] and why we really need to go to school [5]?
Dr Rita Levi-Montalcini: The Nobel Prize Winner Who Persisted
Dr Rita Levi-Montalcini[6] was forced to conduct her research in secret during World War II due to anti-Jewish laws in Italy. But did that stop her? Absolutely not! She set up a makeshift lab in her bedroom and went on to discover nerve growth factor (NGF), a key molecule in neuroscience.
Dr Li-Huei Tsai: Fighting Alzheimer’s with Light and Sound
Taiwanese neuroscientist Dr Li-Huei Tsai[7] is tackling one of the biggest challenges in neuroscience: Alzheimer’s disease. Her research at MIT explores how brain rhythms affect memory and cognition, and she has pioneered a groundbreaking new treatment for Alzheimer's disease using light and sound to improve brain function.
Dr Evelina Fedorenko: The Language and Brain Expert
How does the brain process language? Dr Evelina Fedorenko[8] is at the forefront of research into the neuroscience of language. Her work challenges long-standing theories, revealing that the brain’s language network is more complex and specialised than we used to think.
Dr Kanaka Rajan: Using AI to Decode the Brain
Nowadays, huge leaps are being made using AI in neuroscience, and Dr Kanaka Rajan[9] is a pioneer in the field. A computational neuroscientist, she uses artificial intelligence to model brain functions. By combining neuroscience with machine learning, she’s helping researchers understand how the brain processes information, with implications for mental health, learning, and even consciousness itself.
The women on this list represent just a fraction of the many incredible minds who have contributed to neuroscience and psychology. Their work has shaped how we understand memory, mental health, cognition, neurodevelopment, and so much more.
So, this International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate these trailblazers and continue supporting the next generation of women in STEM. Whether you’re a student, a researcher, or just someone who loves learning about the brain, let’s keep pushing for more representation, more opportunities, and more brilliant women leading the way!
[5] https://www.ted.com/talks/suzana_herculano_houzel_ph_d_why_do_we_have_to_go_to_school_really/details
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