About this Research Topic
The goal of our special issue is to focus on the molecular underpinnings of behavioral plasticity in invertebrates. In doing so, we aim at identifying common molecular mechanisms across species and behavioral contexts, and at highlighting the unique advantages and contributions of invertebrates for this goal.
Our editorial team consists of 3 internationally acknowledged specialists in invertebrate neurobiology who share a common interest for the molecular mechanisms of Invertebrate plasticity. They span a broad geographical area, thus allowing to target different audiences all around the world. Etsuro Ito, a specialist in mollusc neurobiology based in Japan, will collect manuscripts mainly from Asia; Varvara Dyakonova, specialized in mollusc and insect neurobiology based In Russia, will collect manuscripts from Eastern Europe; finally, Martin Giurfa, a specialist in insect neurobiology based In France, will collect manuscripts mainly from western Europe and North and South America.
Behavioral plasticity relies on adaptive, experience-dependent changes of activity in neural circuits mediating behavior. Due to intrinsic complexity of vertebrate brains, such changes can be accessed in a more direct way in simpler brains, with less neurons. Invertebrates combine the possibility of studying plastic changes in behavior, including learning and memory, adaptation and different forms of decision-making processes, with the use of multiple invasive techniques to study neural activity. Yet, variations in neuronal activity are usually related to molecular changes occurring within neurons. Understanding the role of molecular key players in behavioral plasticity is therefore a fundamental goal for neuroscience research. The goal of our special issue is to focus on the molecular underpinnings of behavioral plasticity in invertebrates. In doing so, we aim at identifying common molecular mechanisms across species and behavioral contexts, and at highlighting the unique advantages and contributions of invertebrates for this endeavor. Manuscripts addressing these levels of analyses are highly welcome in multiple forms (Brief Research Report, Methods, Mini Review, Opinion, Original Research, Perspective, Review, and Technology Report).
Keywords: behavioral change, cognitive function, expectation, experience, invertebrate, learning and memory, perception, prediction
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.