Editorial: Women in neuroscience
Date
2022
Authors
Maffei, Arianna
Chiappalone, Michela
Fattore, Liana
Torres, Elizabeth B.
Tremblay, Marie-Ève
Wierenga, Corette J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience
Abstract
The “Matilda effect” is an expression coined in 1993 by Margaret Rossiter, a prominent science historian, to describe the faint recognition of the contribution of women to the scientific enterprise. The expression derived from the realization that just like the work of Matilda Gage, a suffragist who also wrote about women in science, the discoveries and inventions of many women scientists had been forgotten over the course of history. Indeed, women’s contributions to science have been often misappropriated, forgotten or, in some cases, even actively removed from the records. This resulted in a misplaced historic assumption that women lack the intellectual ability and interest for scientific disciplines, and left younger generations of women with very few role models to look up to. Over the past few years, the awareness of this lack of recognition has increased and, despite encountering some resistance, active efforts have been made to make science a more inclusive enterprise. Neuroscience is a multidisciplinary field that encompasses all scientific disciplines including biology, psychology, cognitive sciences, physics, engineering, and mathematics. While women to this day represent a minority of neuroscience faculty, they contribute to all aspects of the field. The goal of the Women in neuroscience Research Topic is to oppose the “Matilda effect” by bringing together excellent research by women, or in collaboration with women. The Research Topic brings together 33 articles in which the first or last author are women. The formats include mini-reviews and reviews of the exceptional work done by past and present women neuroscientists, an opinion article, perspectives and specific Research Topic reviews highlighting scholarship and innovative frameworks, and original research articles that push the field forward.
Description
Keywords
neuroscience, neurophysiology, cognitive science, neuroengineering, neurodegeneration, neuromodulation
Citation
Maffei, A., Chiappalone, M., Fattore, L., Torres, E. B., Tremblay, M-È, & Wieranga, C. J. (2022). Editiorial: Women in neuroscience. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 16, 1032506. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2022.1032506