Indian Neuroscience Research, 1999-2013: A Scientometric Analysis

Abstract

Neuroscience is a vast and rapid developing area in basic scientific research with more advancement every day and naturally high publication in a short period of time is feasible. The rate of neurological disorders among common people is increasing on one hand while India is already facing a shortage in neurologists on the other end. More than thousand Neurological disorders result in situations where the patients are required to be hospitalized than any other diseases including cancer. Neurological disorders affect people across the world in greater number and recent study has revealed that trillion dollars have been spent for the treatments of Neurological disorders, annually. This makes clear that the cost of treating these disorders is high and only the advancement in research can reduce the cost barrier. This study is conducted to analyze the research output of India during the period 1999- 2013. Findings indicate a daunting fact that India's contributions to the field of Neuroscience aresubstantially low with even the top productive Indian institution having only lesser publications since 1999. It is also suggested to increase the number of research institutions dedicated to the development of Neuroscience. India's research output was found to be growing recently, yet this progress was not significant enough to help India move to higher positions in global ranking.