Near-infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) Research of Prefrontal Cortical Function and Dysfunction

  • 15k

    Total downloads

  • 74k

    Total views and downloads

Submit your idea

Select the journal/section where you want your idea to be submitted:

Submit your manuscript summarySubmit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

This Research Topic is an expanded version of the preceding one, “Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in functional research of prefrontal cortex” which we hosted in this journal between 2013 and 2014. Having included 17 research articles and 2 reviews, our previous Research Topic could successfully provide a forum for scientists working with functional studies of prefrontal brain activations. Moreover, the produced Research Topic volume is of interest to a wide area of researchers engaging with clinical works because our topic has revealed the fact that NIRS is indeed a powerful tool for investigation of brain function due to its safety and relative easiness of use that enable to apply in patients with brain dysfunctions, and even in infants. Many positive responses encouraged us to host the current topic.

Clinical implications of NIRS research could be mainly divided into two purposes. One of them is to understand the underlying biological mechanisms of psychiatric and neurological disorders, which would not be limited to human studies, but include animal models such as non-human primates. The other seeks use of NIRS measurements of cortical activity as biomarkers of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Indeed, one of major problems that biomedical and clinical research suffer from is relying on diagnosis that is primarily based on non-biological methods using manuals such as DSM-5 and ICD-10. Thus, an establishment of biologically-based diagnosis of the disorders is the most urgent issue to be solved in clinical studies. In this regard, NIRS, which can be used in clinics and hospitals, is apparently one of the most suitable tools that can yield clear, biologically-based diagnosis of the disorders. Nevertheless, we still require substantial progress of research.

Based on the success of our previous attempt, the purpose of the current topic is to extend our collection of articles addressing NIRS in normal function of the prefrontal cortex as well as the cortex dysfunction in psychiatric and neurological disorders. The brain region is thought to be a central brain area that processes cognitive function and affective regulation, and its deficits have been implicated in various psychiatric and neurological disorders. Understanding of the biological mechanisms of brain dysfunction in psychiatric and neurological disorders does not necessarily come from studies in patients, but consideration of normal brain function in healthy subjects is equally important. This topic, if it is successful, will serve as a forum where both scientists from “basic research” and those from “clinical research” closely interact with one another. In addition to ongoing original research, review articles and perspectives of NIRS research dealing with prefrontal function and dysfunction in any relevant fields are encouraged. We hope this collection of articles would serve as an additional reference repository of knowledge, which aids further advance of research for the fields.

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

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.

     

Impact

  • 74kTopic views
  • 56kArticle views
  • 15kArticle downloads
View impact