Through the lifespan, clinical evidence has shown high comorbidity of vestibular dysfunction and psychiatric symptoms. Vestibular lesions have been related to cognitive difficulties, particularly in tasks involving high attention load; while several studies support an association between changes in the vestibular inputs and changes in mood and affect. In adults, degraded vestibular input may result in cognitive impairment and emotional changes; several studies support a relationship between vestibular function with certain cognitive domains (particularly visuospatial ability and attention), as well as with psychiatric symptoms.

In children, vestibular dysfunction may subtend impairment in motor control, balance and reading abilities, while vertigo has been associated with increased probability of cognitive and psychiatric symptoms; on the other hand, vestibular stimulation has been used for rehabilitation of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, the mechanisms of the vestibular contribution and the consequences of its disruption in the motor and cognitive performances during development of children are yet to be elucidated.

The foundation of these relationships can be provided by the widespread network of the vestibular system in the central nervous system. The vestibular sensory inputs integrate with motor information at early processing stages; they play an essential role in multisensory coordination of body representation and spatial tasks; while several brain regions are implicated in both vestibular pathways and psychiatric disorders.

Nevertheless, evidence suggests that the cerebellar network may also influence both cognition and emotion regulation; lesions of the posterior lobe of the cerebellum may result in a cognitive-affective syndrome with deficits in executive function, visual spatial processing, linguistic skills and regulation of emotions. Also, animal studies have shown that dysregulation of neurotransmitters may participate in the emotional responses to vestibular lesions. However, better understanding of how vestibular function influence cognition and modulate emotions requires further studies, with better delineation and integration of the consequences on the different cognitive domains and affective disorders of both vestibular stimulation and vestibular disorders.

We encourage researchers from all related disciplines to submit different types of manuscripts (original studies, reviews, etc.) on both basic and applied research that cover, but are not limited to, these topics:

- Evidence (on animal models or human beings) on the influence of vestibular function/ dysfunction on cognition and emotion regulation.

- Assessment of central nervous system pathways and mechanisms that may underlie cognitive and affective disarrays related to vestibular disease.

- Assessment of the relationship between vestibular function/dysfunction and psychiatric disorders.

- Research that promotes discussion on the influence of vestibular function during neurodevelopment.

- Studies subtending neuro-rehabilitation by vestibular stimulation.

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Frontiers in Neurology

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