Editorial: Women in Systems Neuroscience

Jacqueline K Rose ^1* Susan E Shore ² Lili Li ³

• ¹ Western Washington University, Bellingham, United States
• ² University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
• ³ Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

1IntroductionIn the field of scientific research, gender disparities bring many challenges for women scientists, including implicit biases in research and publishing. Marie Curie made ground breaking contributions not only on research but also on the progress of women in scientific fields. As the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, she broke barriers in a male-dominated field. Her success demonstrated that women can also achieve the highest levels of scientific endeavor. Over the past decades, system neuroscience has become a critical subfield for exploring the mechanisms underlying behavior and cognition. Many women neuroscientists have made outstanding contributions in this field. Dr. Eve Marder revealed the principles of the neuromodulation and the dynamics of small neural networks (see Nassim, 2018). Dr. Sandhya Koushika developed novel techniques for studying axonal transport (Murthy et al., 2011). Dr. Mary Jeanne Kreek pioneered innovative treatments for drug addiction (Stimmel and Kreek, 2000). Moreover, Dr. Yasmin Hurd disclosed the epigenetic and cellular mechanisms underlying addiction (Yevoo and Maffei, 2022). However, the contributions from women neuroscientists are still underrepresented. This Research Topic, Women in Systems Neuroscience, provides a platform to highlight women neuroscientist’s significant contributions to systems neuroscience.2Auditory SystemsIn this volume, in the peripheral auditory system, Dr. Maria Eulalia Rubio and colleagues (DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1100505) identified demonstrated that there are more fast-gating AMPAR subunits mRNA in females than in males. This could explain the more temporally precise synaptic transmission and increased spiral ganglion synchrony demonstrated in female mice compared to males. In the central auditory system, Dr. Meike Rogalla and colleagues (DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1222176) developed an optogenetic implant in the inferior colliculus to demonstrate the principle of sub-cortical differential stimulation of sensory systems using complex artificial cues in freely moving animals. They showed She demonstrated that neurons in this subcortical structure were able to respond to optogenetic stimulation as well as auditory stimulation and furthermore were able to distinguish between the two types of stimulation. 3Behavior SystemsArce-McShane et al. (DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2023.1213279) contributed to the understanding of cortical control of mastication, specifically bite force and static gape in female rhesus macaques. By recording from implanted microelectrode arrays, Arce-McShane et al. reported that bite force showed stronger individual neuron activation in the three cortical subareas subregions investigated of the orofacial sensorimotor cortex (primary motor, primary somatosensory and cortical masticatory areas ) whereas of the orofacial sensorimotor cortex. Further, principal components analysis of neuron population activity revealed more signaling variance was accounted for by gape. compared to bite force. This work highlights the need for additional work to further characterizes how these three areas of the orofacial sensorimotor cortex signal individually and via coordinated cortical population activity in producing oral behaviors and further elucidates the complex cortical signaling patterns that control mastication.Furriel et al. (DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2024.1454336) outlined an original computational model that incorporates signaling from identified fear and stress brain structures (e.g., amygdala). V with variations from hormones, as well as both spiking neural networks and integrate-and-fire neurons were included to predict physiological and behavioral outcomes of fear and stress resulting from Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning (SEFL) and Immediate-Extinction Deficit (IED) in vivo training. Initially validated using the Contextual Fear Conditioning paradigm, tThis computational framework predicted persistence of a fear memory as a function of the timing of extinction training following conditioning. was validated by comparing outputs to those resulting from Contextual Fear Conditioning. The resultant model provides Furriel et al. demonstrate a plausible in silico approach to behavioral fear testing to reveal conditions, and possible interventions, for fear-based disorders. 4Computational SystemsA method paper by Jarne (DOI: 10.3389/fnsys.2024.1269190) described a recurrent neural network (RNN) model to predict neural computation for a simple working memory task (a 3-bit Flip Flop). Jarne detailed the differential equations, discretization, task parameterization, and the analysis methods for the resultant network activity from different inputs. This paper provides additional support for the use of RNN to predict and understand complex neural processes. 5ConclusionFemale researchers in the field of systems neuroscience have made significant advances in key areas. Their studies have not only revealed the complex functions of the brain but also provided substantial support and inspiration for promoting gender equality in scientific research.