Massachusetts and seven pharmaceutical companies are expected to unveil an ambitious neuroscience consortium Wednesday aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Participants in the Massachusetts Neuroscience Consortium include Abbott Laboratories, Biogen Idec, Inc., EMD Serono Inc., Janssen Research & Development LLC, Merck & Co., Pfizer Inc., and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. Each has pledged $250,000, for initial funding of $1.75 million. The money will go toward preclinical neuroscience at various academic and research institutions in the state.