Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Neurology
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question comes from general science and human biology. Many exams test basic medical terminology, especially names of branches of science that study particular organs or systems. Here, the focus is on the scientific study of the brain, the central organ of the nervous system that controls thoughts, movement, and many vital functions.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- We are dealing with the study of the brain in humans, and by extension other animals.
- The options mix correct and incorrect medical terms.
- The question expects the commonly accepted medical specialty name.
Concept / Approach:
Neurology is the branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system, especially the brain and spinal cord, and their disorders. Nephrology is the study of kidneys, phrenology is an outdated pseudoscience relating skull shape to personality, and neurobiology is a broader biological study of the nervous system, not specifically the clinical study of the brain. For general knowledge exams, “study of the brain” is typically matched with neurology.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify that the organ in question is the brain, part of the nervous system.
2. Recall standard branches of medicine: neurology for nervous system, nephrology for kidneys.
3. Recognize that phrenology is a historical pseudoscience and not a modern accepted branch.
4. Neurobiology is a biological discipline but the standard term for medical study and treatment is neurology.
5. Therefore, the appropriate answer in this context is neurology.
Verification / Alternative check:
Medical textbooks and basic biology references list neurology as the medical specialty that studies, diagnoses, and treats disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. This confirms that neurology is the best fit for the question as framed.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Nephrology: Deals with kidneys and urinary system, not the brain.
Phrenology: An outdated and discredited practice that claimed to read personality from skull bumps.
Neurobiology: A broader biological science dealing with the nervous system at cellular and molecular levels, not specifically the clinical study of the human brain.
Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes confuse neurology with neurobiology because both start with the prefix neuro. Another error is to think that phrenology is still a valid term for brain science because it historically involved the head and skull. Remember that modern medicine uses neurology as the standard term for the study and treatment of brain and nervous system disorders.
Final Answer:
The study of the brain in human medical science is called Neurology.
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