About this Research Topic
Over the past decade, epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as critical mediators in neurodevelopment, aging and neural function. The landscape of known epigenetic modifications, epitranscriptomic modifications and chromatin regulators involved in both physiologic and pathologic states has grown in this time, in particular with respect to brain development and function. The dynamic nature of these epigenetic marks, their responsiveness to environmental influences, and their ability to regulate genome-wide transcriptional programs position epigenetic mechanisms as critical mediators in a wide variety of neurological processes. Of particular interest in this Research Topic is the connection between epigenetics and nervous system development and function, whereby epigenetic marks undergo dynamic changes during brain development and aging, and are targeted for dysregulation in several brain disorders.
Understanding how neuroepigenetic information is established, maintained and regulated across the lifespan is increasingly recognized as critical to expanding our current understanding of normal neurological processes as well as disease etiology. In the past several years, the area of neuroepigenetics has grown, raising many questions and technical challenges specific to working in the nervous system. In addition, there is a growing interest in developing integrative approaches to comprehensively investigate the dynamic nature of epigenetic regulation in brain development and function.
In this Research Topic, the editors aim to bring together a collection of articles on topics related to epigenetic plasticity in brain development and function across the life span. Principal themes covered in this Topic relate to:
i) nervous system-specific epigenetic mechanisms,
ii) how these mechanisms regulate brain development and function across the lifespan,
iii) how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to neuropathology, and
iv) the specific issues and challenges facing the field of neuroepigenetics. Epigenetics here includes epitranscriptomic phenomena.
Specific topics include, but are not limited to: neurodevelopmental processes, normal aging, stress-related disorders, neurocognitive impairments and/or neurodegenerative disorders, autism spectrum and other neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurooncology. Submissions that maintain an integrative perspective between these themes are strongly encouraged. Submissions can be in the form of Reviews, Perspectives, Novel Methodologies/technologies, and Original Research.
Understanding how neuroepigenetic information is established, maintained and regulated across the lifespan is increasingly recognized as critical to expanding our current understanding of normal neurological processes as well as disease etiology. In the past several years, the area of neuroepigenetics has grown, raising many questions and technical challenges specific to working in the nervous system. In addition, there is a growing interest in developing integrative approaches to comprehensively investigate the dynamic nature of epigenetic regulation in brain development and function.
In this Research Topic, the editors aim to bring together a collection of articles on topics related to epigenetic plasticity in brain development and function across the life span. Principal themes covered in this Topic relate to:
i) nervous system-specific epigenetic mechanisms,
ii) how these mechanisms regulate brain development and function across the lifespan,
iii) how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to neuropathology, and
iv) the specific issues and challenges facing the field of neuroepigenetics. Epigenetics here includes epitranscriptomic phenomena.
Specific topics include, but are not limited to: neurodevelopmental processes, normal aging, stress-related disorders, neurocognitive impairments and/or neurodegenerative disorders, autism spectrum and other neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurooncology. Submissions that maintain an integrative perspective between these themes are strongly encouraged. Submissions can be in the form of Reviews, Perspectives, Novel Methodologies/technologies, and Original Research.
Keywords: Epigenetics, Neurodevelopment, Neurodegeneration, Neurooncology, Autism
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.
