Why Neuroscience Fascinates Me: A Personal Journey

On curiosity, perception, and the extraordinary mind of Dr. Fernando Ruiz

There are certain things we are drawn to without fully understanding why. For me, neuroscience has always been one of them.

The human brain is an entire universe within us—constantly adapting, shaping our reality, and defining who we are. It holds the answers to questions we don’t even know how to ask. Why do we perceive ourselves the way we do? How does identity form in the mind? Can we truly change the way we see ourselves?

These are the questions that pull me in, that make me stop and wonder. And while this fascination feels like something intrinsic to me—something that has always been there—it was also profoundly shaped by one of the most extraordinary people I have ever met: Dr. Fernando Ruiz.

The Influence of an Extraordinary Mind

There are intelligent people, and then there are minds that exist on another level—people who don’t just understand knowledge, but seem to see beyond it. Dr. Fernando Ruiz is one of those people.

A neurologist by training, but beyond that, someone whose depth of intelligence, curiosity, and perspective on the world have left an imprint on me. Conversations with him are like opening doors you didn’t even know existed. He doesn’t just explain things—he makes you question everything, guiding you toward deeper truths that feel both obvious and revolutionary at the same time.

His way of thinking is precise, yet expansive. Scientific, yet philosophical. Every interaction with him has fueled my curiosity, challenged my assumptions, and reminded me that knowledge is never static—it’s something you chase, something you shape, something that should always evolve.

From the brain to the face: how Neuroscience shapes my work

As a facial plastic surgeon, my work is deeply connected to perception, identity, and change. I see firsthand how the brain constructs self-image, how it adapts (or resists adaptation), and how the way we see ourselves is just as much a neurological process as it is a physical reality.

This is where my passion for neuroscience and my love for surgery intersect. Facial aesthetics is not just about symmetry and structure—it’s about how the brain interprets those changes. Every procedure, no matter how technical, is also a conversation with the mind: How will this person perceive themselves after surgery? How does the brain adjust to a new facial identity? What is the limit between perception and reality?

I don’t think I would approach my work in the same way if it weren’t for the influence of neuroscience—and, in many ways, the influence of Dr. Ruiz. He shaped the way I think, the way I question, and the way I see the brain as something more than just science—something deeply human, complex, and endlessly fascinating.

A passion that keeps evolving

The more I learn, the more I realize how much there is still to understand. Neuroscience is not just about neurons and pathways—it is about the very fabric of perception, of identity, of what makes us us. And while I may not have all the answers, I know that the questions are what drive me forward.

And maybe, in the process, I’ll continue to see the world—and myself—just a little differently.