The development of a healthy brain is the result of coordinated actions of molecular players and neuronal activity across regions and cell types of various origins. Understanding the normal brain developmental processes is fundamental to study the cause of brain disorders. Studies using approaches such as high-resolution microscopy in fixed and living tissues, neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and behavior have enabled researchers to detect changes in brain structure and function. In the past few decades, a major focus of neuroscience research has been to identify the molecular basis of brain development and disease. Many genes have been identified that show changes in expression patterns across brain regions and function in important roles during critical stages of brain development. Altered gene expression profiles have also been reported in healthy compared to diseased brain conditions.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest to profile gene expression and the coordinated interplay of genes that influence the development of a healthy brain and underlie the etiology of a brain disorder. The goal of this research topic is to highlight studies where researchers have (a) focused on understanding the development of the brain in healthy and/or in diseased states and (b) a systems biology perspective to connect gene expression to one or more of the approaches including but not limited to state-of-the-art microscopy, electrophysiology, neuro-imaging, or behavior. Studies employing recent and advanced techniques such as genomics, transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics, or multi-omics are highly encouraged. Also, bridging the gap between genetics and protein-based analyses is always a fundamental challenge in modern neuroscience and we would strongly consider studies focused on this direction.
Exploring the aspects of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disease progression by a systems biology approach is the primary scope of this research topic, where the structure-function connection from a single neuron to the network level is of great interest. Studies that have established strong connections between gene expression changes and the etiology of these brain disorders using model systems such as mouse, rat, human, non-human primates, or brain organoids are welcome. The types of articles to be considered include original research, brief research report, review, and mini-review.
The development of a healthy brain is the result of coordinated actions of molecular players and neuronal activity across regions and cell types of various origins. Understanding the normal brain developmental processes is fundamental to study the cause of brain disorders. Studies using approaches such as high-resolution microscopy in fixed and living tissues, neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and behavior have enabled researchers to detect changes in brain structure and function. In the past few decades, a major focus of neuroscience research has been to identify the molecular basis of brain development and disease. Many genes have been identified that show changes in expression patterns across brain regions and function in important roles during critical stages of brain development. Altered gene expression profiles have also been reported in healthy compared to diseased brain conditions.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest to profile gene expression and the coordinated interplay of genes that influence the development of a healthy brain and underlie the etiology of a brain disorder. The goal of this research topic is to highlight studies where researchers have (a) focused on understanding the development of the brain in healthy and/or in diseased states and (b) a systems biology perspective to connect gene expression to one or more of the approaches including but not limited to state-of-the-art microscopy, electrophysiology, neuro-imaging, or behavior. Studies employing recent and advanced techniques such as genomics, transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics, or multi-omics are highly encouraged. Also, bridging the gap between genetics and protein-based analyses is always a fundamental challenge in modern neuroscience and we would strongly consider studies focused on this direction.
Exploring the aspects of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disease progression by a systems biology approach is the primary scope of this research topic, where the structure-function connection from a single neuron to the network level is of great interest. Studies that have established strong connections between gene expression changes and the etiology of these brain disorders using model systems such as mouse, rat, human, non-human primates, or brain organoids are welcome. The types of articles to be considered include original research, brief research report, review, and mini-review.