An outspoken neuroscientist
BMJ 2007; 334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0703116 (Published 01 March 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:0703116
- Balaji Ravichandran, student editor1
- 1Student BMJ
Courtesy Mindscience
How do you manage to do so many things with so little time?
Firstly, if you want to do something, you'll always find the time for it, especially if you enjoy what you're doing. What counts as work for some people is just not work for me-it is pleasurable. Secondly, I am part of a big team that takes care of a lot of things even when I'm not physically present. Of course, my personal assistant helps me save monumental amounts of time. Finally, you ought to abandon the ambition of aiming to be a perfectionist. Have a real vision of the time you have and how you want to divide it, and do the best you can.
You have an unusual background for a scientist, in maths and classics. What drew you towards psychology and philosophy and subsequently neuroscience?
It was actually my background in classics-it is suffused with philosophical ideas and allusions to the human mind. So, I was inclined to take psychology and philosophy later, and the more I did it the more my interest turned towards physiology rather than behaviour. My mentor at Oxford, Jane …
Log in
Log in using your username and password
Log in through your institution
Subscribe from £184 *
Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more.
* For online subscription
Access this article for 1 day for:
£50 / $60/ €56 (excludes VAT)
You can download a PDF version for your personal record.