Hyper Recent

Neuroscience emerged as a distinct academic discipline during the 20th century and has undergone rapid expansion and diversification. A comprehensive analysis of its evolving landscape becomes increasingly important to retain an overview of cross-domain insights and research questions. This study leverages text-embedding and clustering techniques together with large language models to analyze 461,316 articles published between 1999 and 2023 and reveals the field's structural organization and dominant research domains. Inter-cluster citation analysis uncovers a surprisingly integrated picture and key intellectual hubs that shape the broader research landscape. An analysis of how research clusters align with pre-defined dimensions demonstrates a strong experimental focus, widespread reliance on specific mechanistic explanations rather than unifying theoretical frameworks, and a growing emphasis on applied research. Fundamental research is at the risk of decline and cross-scale integration remains limited. This study provides a framework for understanding neuroscience's trajectory and identifies potential avenues for strengthening the field.

The Evolving Landscape of Neuroscience

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