Marine invertebrates have a numerically-reduced and efficient nervous system structured by large and accessible nerve cells, which allows multidisciplinary studies of the functionality, physiology, plasticity, signaling processes, transport mechanisms, cellular differentiation, and neurogenesis of neural circuits. The phylogenetic link between invertebrate Phylum such as the Echinodermata and Chordata make marine invertebrates important models, as findings in these animal models allow us to understand the functioning of the nervous system in both vertebrates and invertebrates, and contribute to the understanding of evolutionary processes that lead to the emergence of complex properties and behaviors.
Neuroscience research has ramifications in many other areas, such as in physiology, pharmaceutical, psychological, evolutionary and medical sciences. Having animal models that allow ethical research in all of these areas represents an important challenge. For decades it has been shown that invertebrates, particularly marine ones, are suitable models in the field of neuroscience to analyze processes of neurotransmission, neuroregeneration, neurodegeneration, neurotoxicity, neurogenesis, and neuroevolution. Therefore, having a collection of works in this field of research constitutes an important and invaluable source of information that may be consulted by various sectors interested in learning more about the neurobiology of marine invertebrates.
The aim of this Research Topic is to have an updated compilation of marine invertebrates’ neural circuitry, including neuron and glial cellular morphology and ultrastructure, and signaling and transport mechanisms. We welcome submissions of Original Research and Reviews on a wide range of topics that contribute to our goal, such as neuroanatomy, neuronal markers, neuronal development and regeneration, neurotrophic factors, neuromodulators, neurotransmitters and other chemical receptors, and neurophysiological processes of marine invertebrates.
Marine invertebrates have a numerically-reduced and efficient nervous system structured by large and accessible nerve cells, which allows multidisciplinary studies of the functionality, physiology, plasticity, signaling processes, transport mechanisms, cellular differentiation, and neurogenesis of neural circuits. The phylogenetic link between invertebrate Phylum such as the Echinodermata and Chordata make marine invertebrates important models, as findings in these animal models allow us to understand the functioning of the nervous system in both vertebrates and invertebrates, and contribute to the understanding of evolutionary processes that lead to the emergence of complex properties and behaviors.
Neuroscience research has ramifications in many other areas, such as in physiology, pharmaceutical, psychological, evolutionary and medical sciences. Having animal models that allow ethical research in all of these areas represents an important challenge. For decades it has been shown that invertebrates, particularly marine ones, are suitable models in the field of neuroscience to analyze processes of neurotransmission, neuroregeneration, neurodegeneration, neurotoxicity, neurogenesis, and neuroevolution. Therefore, having a collection of works in this field of research constitutes an important and invaluable source of information that may be consulted by various sectors interested in learning more about the neurobiology of marine invertebrates.
The aim of this Research Topic is to have an updated compilation of marine invertebrates’ neural circuitry, including neuron and glial cellular morphology and ultrastructure, and signaling and transport mechanisms. We welcome submissions of Original Research and Reviews on a wide range of topics that contribute to our goal, such as neuroanatomy, neuronal markers, neuronal development and regeneration, neurotrophic factors, neuromodulators, neurotransmitters and other chemical receptors, and neurophysiological processes of marine invertebrates.