The Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute at the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

(UM) is an interdisciplinary research institute, which played a key role in the development of

general systems theory Systems theory is the interdisciplinary study of systems, i.e. cohesive groups of interrelated, interdependent components that can be natural or human-made. Every system has causal boundaries, is influenced by its context, defined by its structu ...

. Stuart A. Umpleby and Eric B. Dent (1999)
"The Origins and Purposes of Several Traditions in Systems Theory and Cybernetics"
In: ''Cybernetics and Systems'': An International Journal, 30:79-103, 1999. Formerly the Mental Health Research Institute, over the years it developed a specific interest in

neuroscience Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), its functions and disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developme ...

and biological psychiatry and was subsequently renamed in the new millennium. The institute was established as Mental Health Research Institute at the University of Michigan in 1955 with the goal of "applying scientific methods to the study of human behavior." It became known in the 1950s for employing some of the initial members of the

Society for General Systems Research The International Society for the Systems Sciences (ISSS) is a worldwide organization for systems sciences. The overall purpose of the ISSS is: :"to promote the development of conceptual frameworks based on general system theory, as well as their ...

(SGSR) such as biologist and founding director of the institute

James Grier Miller James Grier Miller (19167 November 2002, California) was an American biologist, a pioneer of systems science and academic administrator, who originated the modern use of the term "behavioral science", founded and directed the multi-disciplinary ...

, mathematician

Anatol Rapoport Anatol Rapoport ( uk, Анатолій Борисович Рапопо́рт; russian: Анато́лий Бори́сович Рапопо́рт; May 22, 1911January 20, 2007) was an American mathematical psychologist. He contributed to genera ...

, physicist John Platt, urban planner Richard L. Meier, economist

Walter Cannon Walter Bradford Cannon (October 19, 1871 – October 1, 1945) was an American physiologist, professor and chairman of the Department of Physiology at Harvard Medical School. He coined the term "fight or flight response", and developed the theory ...

, neurophysiologist Ralph Gerard, among others like

Margaret Mead Margaret Mead (December 16, 1901 – November 15, 1978) was an American cultural anthropologist who featured frequently as an author and speaker in the mass media during the 1960s and the 1970s. She earned her bachelor's degree at Barnard C ...

and Richard F. Ericson.

References

External links

Website
The Molecular & Behavioral Neuroscience Institute (MBNI) of the University of Michigan. The formerly Mental Health Research Institute. {{authority control Research institutes established in 1955 Systems science institutes University of Michigan 1955 establishments in Michigan