Insights Into Structural and Functional Organization of the Brain: Evidence From Neuroimaging and Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation Techniques

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Background

Over the past decades, the impact of neurological and mental illnesses on the structural and functional organization of the brain has been a topic of growing attention. There is increasing evidence indicating that the classification of brain activity only in terms of anatomically segregated responses is inadequate to describe the complexity of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, depressive and anxiety conditions, cognitive disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Research advancements have improved the chances of studying the functional assessment of brain activity to uncover brain areas involved with neuropsychiatric diseases, and related cognitive, behavioral, and psychiatric symptoms and how these might be ameliorated.

Recent studies are exploring changes in the structure, function, and network properties of individuals with neuro-related disorders compared to healthy ones, using neuroimaging and new non-invasive techniques that can modulate the excitability of the brain activity.

Task-independent or resting-state functional brain imaging (i.e., fMRI) is a relatively recent and powerful tool that allows an examination of the brain's intrinsic networks. Neuroimaging studies show that brain networks share similar structural and spatial organization in rodents and humans, providing new possibilities for the development of translational approaches that could allow early detection, assessment, diagnosis, prognosis, and management of patients with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Similarly, in recent years, the field of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has emerged as a promising diagnostic and therapeutic method. NIBS refers to a set of technologies and techniques that allow to noninvasively modulate excitability of specific brain areas and the large-scale networks in which they participate.

Therefore, based on structural and functional coupled markers, the use of multimodal information can therefore enhance sensitivity to detect altered physiological and molecular mechanisms in these disorders, helping in the management of specific symptoms and providing insights into deeper neurophysiological mechanisms underlying those conditions.

This Research Topic highlights the most recent advances in experimental, clinical, and translational research using brand new techniques to advance our understanding of neural mechanisms shared among neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. We cordially invite authors to contribute comprehensive review and original research articles focusing on (but not limited to) the following:

• Etiology, pathogenesis, and progression mechanisms;
• Early diagnosis including biomarkers, bioimaging, and biosensors;
• Prophylactic, disease-modifying, and therapeutic strategies, novel targets;
• Novel drug discovery and development, naturally driven biomedicines, natural bioactive molecules and vaccines;
• Preclinical in vitro models and animal models;
• Bioimaging, gene therapy, vaccine, cell therapy, and tissue engineering;
• Computational neuroscience and computational psychiatry;
• Neuroimaging methods (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission tomography (SPECT) in the differential diagnosis of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric syndromes;
• Combined neurophysiological (EEG), electrophysiological (Skin Conductance Response and Heart Rate Variability) and behavioral methods (Eye-tracker, Virtual Reality) to investigate signs and symptoms of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases;
• Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders.

Keywords: Neuropsychiatric disorders; Neurodegenerative diseases; Neurocognitive functions; Neuroimaging; Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS)

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.

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