About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

The distinctive feature of the mammalian brain is the large proportion occupied by the neocortex, which, in humans, represents as high as 90% of the total brain surface. Cortical circuitries, similar to other neuronal circuitries, undergo a fast increase in spine number in the early stages of life (peaking about 9 years of age in humans; Petanjek et al. 2011), and then a phase of synaptic pruning and stabilization. Apart from learning-associated changes in fine spine morphology, it is generally believed that no major morphological change takes place in the adult brain and that the general organization and connectivity of brain circuitry remains quite stable throughout adulthood. A well-known exception to this general framework is provided by the major reorganization of the somatosensory cortex following elimination or inactivation of peripheral sensory inputs (reviewed by Kaas et al. 1983; Buonomano and Merzenich 1998). While this general picture is well established, a large amount of data is quickly accumulating showing that the brain undergoes important reorganization in adulthood even in the absence of sensorial deprivation, but in response to a multiplicity of physiological and pathological events such as stress, pain, or drug use. Such essentially functional events have been shown to lead to major cortical remodeling that exceeds the simply functional events and include morphological changes and connection rewiring.
Here we focus our attention on the reorganization of the prefrontal cortex in adult mammals. The prefrontal cortex is an eminently associative area, involved in high-order cognitive and emotional functions including attention, decision making, goal-directed behavior, and working memory, and which receives only minimal primary sensory input. Yet, this area shows remarkable adult plasticity. We examine this topic using multiple approaches ranging from the fine molecular detail of spine number and structure and electrophysiological neuronal properties, to the in vivo imaging in animals and humans. We discuss the general impact of such reorganization on our understanding of neuronal function as well as the direct or indirect implications for major pathologies such as clinical depression, schizophrenia and chronic pain.

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.

Topic editors

marco martina
Northwestern University
Evanston, United States

Frequently asked questions

Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.
Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.
The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.
Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.
As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.
A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.
Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and it falls under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.
In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.
Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.
As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.
Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.
 
Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.
Check available article types here 
Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

Suggest your topic here 
A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.
The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.
As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 
 
You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.
As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).
If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.
Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.
Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.
As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.
Find out more about our Research Topics
Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.
Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.
In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

Share on

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience

Cellular Neuropathology
Cellular Neuroscience Archive
Non-Neuronal Cells
Cellular Neurophysiology

Impact

55kTopic views
42kArticle views
10kArticle downloads

View impact

Submit your idea