About this Research Topic
Memory is one of the most important aspects of who we are and object of study of a complex array of disciplines ranging from evolutionary to molecular biology to cognition and brain development.
Memory is the process we use to learn, store, and/or retrieve information and is perhaps the most affected brain faculty affected by neurodegenerative diseases and aging, representing a major problem for the public health system.
Despite the importance of memory to many aspects of animal behavior, including humans, we know hardly anything about its genetic determinism and its evolution. How genetic-environmental interactions can have an impact on behavioral experiences such as memory is one of the most exciting questions on the study of the significance of memory.
The implementation and use of animal models in memory research have significant limitations since they involve reproducing complex human behaviors in animals.
In addition to the most commonly used mice and rats, alternative animal models are needed. For example, the Octodon degus (or common degu), the Heterocephalus glaber (commonly known as naked mole-rat), whales and dolphins could be very useful for the study of memory, memory deterioration and cognitive regression when the animal reaches an old age.
In addition, the molecular pathways underlying memory have been better studied thanks to new and promising experimental models and techniques (e.g., MRI; electroretinogram; metabolomics; brain-gut microbiome; grid, speed and place cells; behavioral phenotyping; cognitive psychology; CNS lesioning techniques; neuronal tracers for connectivity studies; small craniotomy for drug delivery).
These approaches are now fueled by the engagement of international research centers (e.g., the Buck, Fraunhofer Institute, Max Planck Institute, and the Scripps Institute) as well as the development of multicenter alliances.
This Research Topic seeks to engage researchers worldwide, specifically aiming to integrate the community of experts across the globe and to establish new challenges and developments for future investigation.
We will welcome research studies focused on memory, neurodegenerative diseases and aging. We are particularly interested in studies assessing the interplay among genetic, neural, environmental and behavioral dimensions of memory as well as articles on vulnerability factors, memory reconsolidation processes, stress disorder, also comparing findings from different countries and works promoting multicenter and collaborative networking.
More generally, our call for papers covers a broad scope of human research approaches (behavioral assessment, neuroimaging, electromagnetic techniques, brain connectivity, peripheral measures), animal methodologies (genetics, epigenetics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiome and other molecular biology tools), species (all human and non-human animals, sporadic, and genetic versions), and most common article types (Original Research, Review, and Opinion papers).
Through this wide-ranging proposal, we hope to introduce a fresh approach to the challenges and opportunities of research on memory. In this framework, the proposed theme aims to explore the different aspects of memory with researchers from different disciplines.
Memory is the process we use to learn, store, and/or retrieve information and is perhaps the most affected brain faculty affected by neurodegenerative diseases and aging, representing a major problem for the public health system.
Despite the importance of memory to many aspects of animal behavior, including humans, we know hardly anything about its genetic determinism and its evolution. How genetic-environmental interactions can have an impact on behavioral experiences such as memory is one of the most exciting questions on the study of the significance of memory.
The implementation and use of animal models in memory research have significant limitations since they involve reproducing complex human behaviors in animals.
In addition to the most commonly used mice and rats, alternative animal models are needed. For example, the Octodon degus (or common degu), the Heterocephalus glaber (commonly known as naked mole-rat), whales and dolphins could be very useful for the study of memory, memory deterioration and cognitive regression when the animal reaches an old age.
In addition, the molecular pathways underlying memory have been better studied thanks to new and promising experimental models and techniques (e.g., MRI; electroretinogram; metabolomics; brain-gut microbiome; grid, speed and place cells; behavioral phenotyping; cognitive psychology; CNS lesioning techniques; neuronal tracers for connectivity studies; small craniotomy for drug delivery).
These approaches are now fueled by the engagement of international research centers (e.g., the Buck, Fraunhofer Institute, Max Planck Institute, and the Scripps Institute) as well as the development of multicenter alliances.
This Research Topic seeks to engage researchers worldwide, specifically aiming to integrate the community of experts across the globe and to establish new challenges and developments for future investigation.
We will welcome research studies focused on memory, neurodegenerative diseases and aging. We are particularly interested in studies assessing the interplay among genetic, neural, environmental and behavioral dimensions of memory as well as articles on vulnerability factors, memory reconsolidation processes, stress disorder, also comparing findings from different countries and works promoting multicenter and collaborative networking.
More generally, our call for papers covers a broad scope of human research approaches (behavioral assessment, neuroimaging, electromagnetic techniques, brain connectivity, peripheral measures), animal methodologies (genetics, epigenetics, proteomics, metabolomics, microbiome and other molecular biology tools), species (all human and non-human animals, sporadic, and genetic versions), and most common article types (Original Research, Review, and Opinion papers).
Through this wide-ranging proposal, we hope to introduce a fresh approach to the challenges and opportunities of research on memory. In this framework, the proposed theme aims to explore the different aspects of memory with researchers from different disciplines.
Keywords: memory, aging, neurodegeneration, evolutionary genetics, translational research, place and grid cells
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
