About this Research Topic
This Research Topic is part of a series of Research Topics on neuronal mechanisms and brain circuits that regulate the fundamental aspects of human behavior. Volume I: Affective, Cognitive and Social Neuroscience: New Knowledge in Normal Aging, Minor and Major Neurocognitive Disorders.
This Research Topic provides an overview of cognitive science and affective and social neuroscience findings, exploring neuropsychological processes and brain circuits that regulate the fundamental aspects of human behavior. As with other fields of knowledge, neuroscience is also being strongly influenced by complexity thinking. Indeed, the results achieved by complexity theory are being applied to neuropsychology and the humanities as well as to all other disciplines. This is especially true with regard to social interactions in the post-pandemic world and the virtual world (web, social media, metaverse, virtual reality). The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated all our vulnerability. Humanity has been attacked by an unknown virus, spread rapidly by the intense mobility of people, which has disrupted the global socio-economic system and our lives. The challenge today to emerge from the crisis is to identify obsolete paths of knowledge to be abandoned and to find new, unexplored alternatives or unmet needs in the population.
Our primary intent is to examine the neural underpinnings and functional mechanisms of social behavior, of affective/cognitive regulation of behavior, and of the alterations of these processes in normal subjects and individuals with a minor and major neurocognitive disorder, by analyzing both theoretical and experimental contributions. Indeed, the Research Topic covers the perception of social information, imitation and empathy, theory of mind, cognitive control, emotions and motivation, social inclusion and social exclusion, altruistic and prosocial behaviors, neurophysiology of reward mechanisms, and their role in normal and pathological decision-making processes. Attention with reference to long-covid and neurocovid will be appreciated. Indeed, we must increasingly understand mental distress due to pandemic and the implications of physical, social and relational isolation on social cognition and emotion regulation.
Relevance will be given also to all aspects that may influence the functioning of the previous ones, such as neuropsychological factors (memory, attention, metacognitive-executive functions), personality, and mood. Emphasis will be placed also on neuroanatomical circuits and neurochemical modulation mechanisms, integrating a variety of research methods: behavioral, neurophysiological, psychopharmacological, computational, and neuroimaging.
Our aim is to give a reader the most up-to-date perspective on how the interaction between neural mechanisms and neuropsychological processes lead to complex and highly organized behaviors. We welcome contributions from clinicians, neuroscientists, and academics. It is intended to provide an opportunity for researchers of different perspectives to discuss recent progress in this field.
Researchers using various methods - including behavioral experiments, neuroimaging, eye-tracking, computer simulation, VR, observational methods, and neuropsychological assessment tools - are encouraged to contribute especially original empirical research articles. Furthermore, the call is open for theoretical approaches such as Reviews, Perspective, and Opinion articles on promising future directions.
This Research Topic provides an overview of cognitive science and affective and social neuroscience findings, exploring neuropsychological processes and brain circuits that regulate the fundamental aspects of human behavior. As with other fields of knowledge, neuroscience is also being strongly influenced by complexity thinking. Indeed, the results achieved by complexity theory are being applied to neuropsychology and the humanities as well as to all other disciplines. This is especially true with regard to social interactions in the post-pandemic world and the virtual world (web, social media, metaverse, virtual reality). The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated all our vulnerability. Humanity has been attacked by an unknown virus, spread rapidly by the intense mobility of people, which has disrupted the global socio-economic system and our lives. The challenge today to emerge from the crisis is to identify obsolete paths of knowledge to be abandoned and to find new, unexplored alternatives or unmet needs in the population.
Our primary intent is to examine the neural underpinnings and functional mechanisms of social behavior, of affective/cognitive regulation of behavior, and of the alterations of these processes in normal subjects and individuals with a minor and major neurocognitive disorder, by analyzing both theoretical and experimental contributions. Indeed, the Research Topic covers the perception of social information, imitation and empathy, theory of mind, cognitive control, emotions and motivation, social inclusion and social exclusion, altruistic and prosocial behaviors, neurophysiology of reward mechanisms, and their role in normal and pathological decision-making processes. Attention with reference to long-covid and neurocovid will be appreciated. Indeed, we must increasingly understand mental distress due to pandemic and the implications of physical, social and relational isolation on social cognition and emotion regulation.
Relevance will be given also to all aspects that may influence the functioning of the previous ones, such as neuropsychological factors (memory, attention, metacognitive-executive functions), personality, and mood. Emphasis will be placed also on neuroanatomical circuits and neurochemical modulation mechanisms, integrating a variety of research methods: behavioral, neurophysiological, psychopharmacological, computational, and neuroimaging.
Our aim is to give a reader the most up-to-date perspective on how the interaction between neural mechanisms and neuropsychological processes lead to complex and highly organized behaviors. We welcome contributions from clinicians, neuroscientists, and academics. It is intended to provide an opportunity for researchers of different perspectives to discuss recent progress in this field.
Researchers using various methods - including behavioral experiments, neuroimaging, eye-tracking, computer simulation, VR, observational methods, and neuropsychological assessment tools - are encouraged to contribute especially original empirical research articles. Furthermore, the call is open for theoretical approaches such as Reviews, Perspective, and Opinion articles on promising future directions.
Keywords: mirror neurons, empathy, emotions, theory of mind, imitation, reward system, social cognition, prosocial behaviour, neuroeconomy, e-learning, e-medicine, metaverse, virtual reality, social decision-making, social inclusion, social exclusion
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.
