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In the early 1980's, research in various areas of neuroscience was being actively carried out in several dozen laboratories scattered throughout the University of Minnesota. However, there was little interaction between faculty members except within single departments or specialized areas. At that time about a dozen faculty members began to informally seek ways to coordinate and expand interdisciplinary teaching and research in neuroscience. Those efforts gained much impetus when the University of Minnesota Medical School made a conscious decision in the late 1980's to enhance neuroscience research and teaching. This was initiated to complement an already strong representation in neuroscience in basic science departments and was supported by the perception that neuroscience was rapidly becoming a dominant research focus in biology.

Neuroscientists were recruited to head two basic science departments in the Medical School (physiology and pharmacology) and six endowed chairs were established for neuroscience. At about the same time, The Graduate Program in Neuroscience was established and is now regarded as the most outstanding interdisciplinary graduate training program in the entire University. The creation of the Department of Neuroscience in the Medical School in 1999 has further increased the visibility of the Graduate Program

Directors of Graduate Studies, Graduate Program in Neuroscience, 1987 to present:

• 1986 - 1987 Dr. Richard Poppele (Directed Neuroscience minor prior to certification for the PhD Program)
• 1987 - 1989: Dr. Robert P. Elde, Dept. of Cell Biology & Neuroanatomy
• 1989 - 1992: Dr. Robert F. Miller, Dept. of Physiology
• 1992 - 1995: Dr. Alice A. Larson, Dept. of Veterinary PathoBiology
• 1995 - 1998: Dr. Timothy J. Ebner, Dept. of Neurosurgery
• 1998 - 1999: Dr. Esam El-Fakahany, Dept. of Psychiatry
• 1999 - 2002: Dr. John F. Soechting, Dept. of Neuroscience
• 2002 - 2005: Dr. William C. Engeland, Dept. of Surgery
• 2005 - 2008: Dr. Paul C. Letourneau, Department of Neuroscience
• 2008 - Present: Dr. Virginia S. Seybold, Department of Neuroscience