Neural engineers are uniquely qualified to solve design problems at the interface of living neural tissue and non-living constructs.

It is distinguished from wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, but is more easily reversed than the state of hibernation. Mammalian sleep occurs in repeating periods, in which the body alternates between two highly distinct modes known as non-REM and REM sleep. REM stands for "rapid eye movement" but involves many other aspects including virtual paralysis of the body.

Numerous new disciplines have arisen over the past ten to twenty years based on neurosience research. One of the objectives of the Neuroscience Knowledge Network is to provide people and organizations exploring these new collaborations with Hubs that facilitate the evolution and promotion of these new fields of study and practice.