What is Neuroscience?
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the brain and nervous system—how we think, feel, remember, move, and interact with the world. It encompasses everything from the basic biology of neurons to complex behaviors like language and empathy.
Neuroscience helps us understand and treat conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, autism, depression, and addiction. It also opens up big questions about consciousness, gender, memory, and identity. As brain research expands, so does our capacity to improve mental and physical health for people across the globe.
Canada is home to some of the world’s leading neuroscientists—including the following remarkable women whose work is advancing brain science and benefiting humanity.
1. Dr. Brenda Milner (b. 1918) – Montreal, Quebec
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| Dr. Brenda Milner Source |
Field: Neuropsychology
Known For: Discovery of how memory works in the brain
Born in Manchester, UK, and later settling in Canada, Dr. Brenda Milner is considered a founding figure in cognitive neuroscience. She is best known for her work with patient H.M., whose brain injury helped unlock how different types of memory are stored. Milner showed that memory isn't just one system—it has multiple forms, such as declarative and procedural memory.
Still active well past 100 years old, at McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute, Milner inspired generations of women in science with her longevity, curiosity, and groundbreaking research.
“I still come to the lab every day because there are always new questions,” she once said.
2. Dr. Liisa Galea – British Columbia
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| Dr, Liisa Galea Source |
Field: Neuroendocrinology and Women’s Brain Health
Known For: Research studies into how hormones affect memory, mood, and risk of depression in women
Dr. Galea grew up in British Columbia and earned her PhD at the University of Western Ontario. Now based at Simon Fraser University, she is a pioneer in research on how female hormones like estrogen and progesterone influence the brain.
She has called for more sex- and gender-based neuroscience, showing how pregnancy, menopause, and hormone therapies impact brain health and mental health. Dr. Galea also founded the Women’s Health Research Cluster, linking brain scientists, clinicians, and advocates.
3. Dr. Mayada Elsabbagh – Montreal, Quebec
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| Dr. Mayada Elsabbagh Source |
Known For: Research on early brain development and autism diagnosis
Born in Egypt and raised partly in Canada, Dr. Elsabbagh is a McGill neuroscientist known for using EEG (electroencephalography) to study the infant brain. Her work helps identify early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and improve access to intervention, especially in under-resourced communities globally.
She also champions open science and equity in neurodevelopmental research, ensuring that neuroscience reflects diverse children and families.
4. Dr. Natasha Rajah – Montreal, Quebec
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| Dr. Natasha Rajah Source |
Field: Cognitive Neuroscience of Memory and Aging
Known For: Research on how memory and the brain change with age
Originally from Toronto, Dr. Rajah is a cognitive neuroscientist who investigates how aging affects the brain’s memory systems. Her research uses fMRI imaging to explore how men and women’s brains age differently and how midlife brain health predicts later cognitive function.
Until recently, she was the Director of the Douglas Brain Imaging Centre and a professor at McGill. She also speaks out about barriers for women and racialized minorities in STEM, emphasizing the importance of representation in science.
5. Dr. Isabelle Aubert – Toronto, Ontario
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| Dr. Isabel Aubert Source |
Field: Regenerative Neuroscience
Known For: Using focused ultrasound to deliver therapies across the blood-brain barrier
Dr. Aubert is a leading researcher at Sunnybrook Research Institute in Toronto. Her team works on developing new ways to repair the brain after injury or disease. A major focus is Alzheimer’s: she helped pioneer non-invasive techniques like focused ultrasound to safely deliver drugs to the brain, which is normally protected by the blood-brain barrier.
Originally from Quebec, Dr. Aubert’s work is part of a global effort to treat neurodegenerative conditions in ways that are more precise, less invasive, and potentially life-changing.
🌟 It IS Brain Science!
These women are reshaping the landscape of neuroscience in Canada—pushing the boundaries of how we understand the brain, and how we support human health across age, gender, and ability. Their diverse paths and groundbreaking research show that Canadian women are not just participating in science—they’re leading it.
Disclosure: AI was utilized in the editing of this article.
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