About this Research Topic

Background

In everyday life, many different sensory signals (visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory, vestibular) concurrently hit our senses. Although our first-hand perception seems largely dominated by a single modality, typically vision, without any conscious different sensory signals are simultaneously processed and merged together through mechanisms of multisensory integration. The ability to integrate information from different sensory modalities is a fundamental property of the brain: the binding of information from different senses shapes perception, cognition, learning, and behaviour. In many cases, the survival of an organism may even depend on appropriate responses to multisensory stimuli. The brain is endorsed with specialized neural and cortical mechanisms for the synthesis of information derived from the different senses into coherent, unitary, representations. Given its substantial value for optimal brain development and functioning, the research in this field has seen an expansion in the last years, attracting scientists from different disciplines who have explored how the brain bind together multisensory inputs, and how the product of such multisensory binding shapes the human brain and behaviour.
The aim of this research topic is to resume the state of the art and present up-to-date advancements in this area, focusing on the ‘plastic side’ of multisensory integration. So far, cerebral plasticity linked to multisensory integration has been mainly described with reference to deafferentation: acquired or congenital loss of one sense is known to induce a widespread reorganization of the spared sensory pathways, featured by the recruitment of cortical resources of the deprived modality by intact sensory modalities. Instead, less investigated is the issue of how normal and dysfunctional multisensory integration shapes brain functions across the lifespan. Our Research Topic faces this issue focusing on the impact of multisensory integration on optimal neural and cognitive development, as well as its potential for the recovery from neurological and psychiatric diseases impairing multisensory processing. This important issue needs to be faced by different perspectives.
First, by tracking the emergence and maturation of multisensory abilities in animals and humans, and by uncovering whether and how multisensory experiences affect neural, perceptual and cognitive development. Anatomical and neurophysiological studies in animals revealed different potential sources of multisensory neural computations at both cortical and sub-cortical levels (Stein et al., 2014); however less is known about their stability and flexibility across the lifespan and their interaction with the inherent plasticity of the brain.
Second, there is a growing attention to the investigation of the diseases of the central nervous system that may block or alter multisensory processing. Here, the unsolved issue concerns how the human brain reacts to the loss of multisensory abilities, and the behavioural consequences on perceptual and cognitive functioning. In this context, anatomical and physiological measures, connectivity and network analyses are necessary to reveal the pathophysiology of multisensory-related disorders and their impact on the functional organization of modality-specific and multisensory networks.
In turn, this knowledge will be of critical importance for developing novel therapies to treat multisensory-related disorders. Some promising, proof-of-principle, evidence suggests that multisensory-based approaches may be useful for the treatment of different neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Such evidence holds great promise for the neurorehabilitation targeting perceptual and cognitive disorders, as well pain and body-related disorders. On a broader perspective, since multisensory integration likely forms the building blocks for higher-order representations, therapies aimed at targeting multisensory functions may likely to produce widespread benefits and to have effects that cascade on behaviour, psychological well-being and functional recovery (Wallance & Stevenson, 2014).
To provide a novel interdisciplinary framework to address this fascinating and multifaceted research topic, we will welcome and actively seek for submissions encompassing behavioural, neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, computational studies, as well as clinical and neuropsychological evidence in human adults and children in healthy and pathological conditions.
Submission of original studies as well as review and opinion papers on this topic are encouraged.

Keywords: Multisensory integration, neurorehabilitation, brain plasticity, neuro-psychiatric diseases, development

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.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  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.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  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.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  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.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  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.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  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.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  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 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  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 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  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.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  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.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  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).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research 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. 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.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  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

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  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.

• Will there be a printed version of my Research Topic?

  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.