Neuro

Neuro is a prefix derived from the Greek neuron, meaning nerve. In modern usage, neuro- signals the nervous system as a whole or parts thereof. It appears in medical specialties, scientific disciplines, and a wide range of terms describing brain and nerve function, development, and disease.

The prefix is foundational in fields such as neurology (clinical study and treatment of nervous system disorders), neuroscience (the broader scientific study of the brain and nervous system), neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neuropharmacology, and neuroimaging. It also forms terms like neurodegenerative, neuroplasticity, and neurobiology.

Research and practice using neuro- relies on multiple methods: medical imaging (MRI, fMRI, CT), electrophysiology (EEG, EMG), molecular biology, genetics, behavioral analysis, and computational modeling.

The term is a productive linguistic prefix in English, expanding to fields like neuroethics, neuroeconomics, and neuromarketing, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach to nervous system structure and function.