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        <title>Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/systems-neuroscience</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience | New and Recent Articles</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-13T12:54:18.474+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
        <item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1628536</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1628536</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Brain mechanisms of auditory perception in autism spectrum disorder: a comparative perspective on tonal and non-tonal languages]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-12T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Opinion</category>
        <author>Anastasia Neklyudova</author><author>Yangyang Liu</author><author>Yiyun Xia</author><author>Olga Sysoeva</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1822122</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1822122</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Convergence-divergence circuits for multimodal integration of innate and learned opponent valences]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Wenjing Wang</author><author>Yaokai Yang</author><author>Qiong Liu</author><author>Yunming Gao</author><author>Qiantao Lv</author><author>Kaiqi Zhang</author><author>Jing Ning</author><author>Yi Sun</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Valence detection in complex environment is critical for natural behaviors like foraging. Previous studies have explored valence processing in brain regions like lateral horn (LH) and mushroom body (MB) using simple synthetic stimuli in Drosophila. However, the neural basis for valence detection of natural objects in complex contexts remains unclear. Here, by brain-wide connectome analysis, we identified the evolutionarily conserved superior protocerebrum (SP) that integrates brain-wide multimodal inputs mainly via LH and MB, and sends widespread outputs particularly to the central complex (CX). This forms a convergence-divergence circuit resembling an autoencoder architecture, with SP as the bottleneck integrating multimodal information into low-dimensional valence signals. Specifically, SP input LH neurons integrate ethologically related innate valences for robust valence detection in natural environments, and the integration can be unimodal, such as that of diverse odors signaling food, or multimodal, such as that of wind and temperature signaling lousy weather. Opponent valences of attraction and aversion are further integrated into SP for complex valence detection. MB learned valences are also integrated into SP to update LH innate valences with recent experience for flexible valence detection. Attractive and aversive valences, either innate or learned, are integrated via excitatory and inhibitory synapses, respectively to form complex valence signals in a single SP neuron. Organized synaptic compartments support dendritic computation, with SP neurons exhibiting opposite synaptic organizations for opponent valences, indicating dendritic integration for complex valence detection. Our study highlights the importance of SP in multimodal opponent valence integration and suggests generalizable network and dendritic structures for complex valence processing.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1812957</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1812957</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The body does not keep the score: trauma, predictive coding, and the restoration of metastability]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Opinion</category>
        <author>Steven Kotler</author><author>Michael Mannino</author><author>Glenn Fox</author><author>Karl Friston</author>
        <description></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2025.1687354</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2025.1687354</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Quantitative investigation on working memory patterns through EEG based on visual attention task for children with learning disability]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-29T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>S. Vidhusha</author><author>S. Karthika</author><author>N. Sahana</author><author>A. Sabari Srinivas</author><author>Shitharth Selvarajan</author><author>Nithya Rekha Sivakumar</author><author>Sumendra Yogarayan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Learning disabilities in children are exhibited through difficulties in reading and writing due to lack of cognitive skills. It is generally diagnosed by analyzing the behavior and processing capacity of children by understanding their academic candidature. This can also be evidenced by capturing and analyzing their working memory patterns in the brain that show the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in children with learning disabilities. This research works with the electroencephalography (EEG) signal data from the IEEE dataport consisting of 121 participants in total, of which 61 are ADHD and 60 are normal children aged 7–12 years. The usage of these data has influenced ground truth research by providing reliable data and mitigating the challenge with real-time availability of EEG data. This manuscript focuses on classifying the dataset into categories of children, viz normal and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), using brain connectivity parameters and validation through machine learning (ML) algorithms. Children with learning disabilities undergo therapeutic interventions to manage their disability. Generally, the progress of their intellectual capability can be assessed through visual cues and the responses that the children exhibit. Rather, their differences in brain cognition need to be analyzed to realize the outcomes of therapeutical effect. In this research, the brain connectivity parameters such as power spectral density (PSD), granger causality (GC), phase slope index (PSI), partial directed coherence (PDC), and directed transmission function (DTF) are estimated, quantified, and analyzed. Further, using the measures of brain connectivity parameters, certain ML algorithms—such as the logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), the k-nearest neighbor (KNN), and random forest (RF)—along with a deep learning model, viz. deep belief networks (DBN) have been employed for validating this study. Among these models, DBN offered a model accuracy of 89.7%. Hence, this concept emphasizes the validation and effectiveness of therapeutic interventions that can support clinical evaluations in children with learning disability.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1786729</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1786729</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Information-theoretic and physical constraints on advanced neural signal decoding]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Enzhuo Zhang</author><author>Syed Ishtiaque Ahmed</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Recent interdisciplinary research has raised interest in whether non-classical physical principles may impose fundamental constraints on how neural information can be observed, extracted, or decoded. While conventional neuroscience models neural signaling primarily through classical electrochemical processes, a growing body of theoretical literature has speculated that quantum-mechanical concepts—such as coherence, entanglement, or quantum-inspired information processing—may offer alternative perspectives on the limits of neural observability. This article provides a critical and integrative review of theoretical proposals situated at the intersection of neuroscience, quantum biology, and information theory, without assuming the physical realizability of quantum information processing in biological neural systems. We examine conceptual motivations, key physical constraints (including decoherence, thermal noise, and system complexity), and unresolved theoretical challenges that arise when extending classical neural decoding frameworks toward non-classical regimes. Rather than proposing an experimentally validated mechanism for brain decoding, this work focuses on identifying conceptual boundaries, potential misinterpretations, and open questions that must be addressed before non-classical approaches to neural signal decoding can be meaningfully evaluated. Ethical considerations, methodological limitations, and future research directions are discussed to clarify the conditions under which such speculative frameworks may contribute to neuroscience, while avoiding overextension beyond current empirical evidence.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1727180</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1727180</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Deciphering the regulatory mechanism of neural behavioral decisions through biogenic amine-mediated modulation of neural circuits in Caenorhabditis elegans]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-16T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Hui Liu</author><author>Yunlong Shen</author><author>Dejian Peng</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Brain function is not simply the sum of individual neuronal activities, but rather emerges from functional neural circuits comprising thousands to millions of neurons with specific topological structures and dynamic properties. Investigating the functions and information-processing architectures of these neural circuits is essential for understanding how the brain performs “computation” and “operation.” Biological neural regulatory networks are captivating due to their extensive utilization of diverse signaling molecules for interneuronal communication. Neurotransmitters, receptors, and neurons together compose neuroregulatory circuits, which act as fundamental functional units in the network for generating behavioral instructions. However, the discovery and decipherment of neural circuits remain challenging, due to the necessity of comprehending the functions of signaling molecules and neuronal cells, as well as their regulatory mechanisms. In this review, we focus on four biogenic amines signals, including dopamine, serotonin, octopamine and tyramine, and discuss their regulatory roles with their receptors in Caenorhabditis elegans neural circuits. In particular, we summarize the functional roles of the biogenic amine neurons and their complex interaction mechanisms in neural circuits. We also provide perspectives on the fine-scale neural connectivity, which will bridge microscopic neuronal activity with macroscopic cognitive behaviors, offering a theoretical framework for further elucidating the neural mechanisms underlying brain adaptation, learning, and memory.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1744042</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1744042</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Quantifying emotion-dependent brain–eye interactions during audiovisual emotional stimulation]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Feryal A. Alskafi</author><author>Ahsan H. Khandoker</author><author>Faezeh Marzbanrad</author><author>Herbert F. Jelinek</author>
        <description><![CDATA[PurposeElectrooculography (EOG) provides a noninvasive measure of eye movements linked to affective processing, yet it is mainly used for artifact correction of electroencephalography (EEG) signals rather than analyzed as a physiological signal in its own right. EEG–EOG coupling has therefore not been well-established. This study aimed to determine whether emotion-specific changes in arousal and valence are reflected in directional and frequency-specific interactions between EEG rhythms and EOG signals.MethodsThe DEAP dataset with 32 participants, where each viewed 40 1-min music videos and rated their arousal/valence, was used (1,280 samples). EEG from eight electrodes was filtered into theta, alpha, beta, and gamma frequency bands, while horizontal and vertical EOG were also preprocessed. EOG complexity was assessed using sample, fuzzy, and permutation entropy. EEG–EOG coupling was assessed with the controlled time delay stability (CTDS) framework, which evaluates stability of partial cross-correlation delays.ResultsEntropy analysis showed emotion-related differences in horizontal and vertical EOG complexity (p < 0.005). EEG–EOG coupling varied with emotion, with the strongest effects at sensorimotor and frontal sites, primarily within the gamma band. Directional EOG-to-EEG coupling predominating at frontal, sensorimotor, and occipital sites. Differences were most pronounced when arousal and valence varied independently or in opposite directions, with fewer effects during parallel shifts.ConclusionEmotional states are mirrored by frequency- and channel-specific shifts in EEG–EOG interactions, a core component of the affective behavioral network. These results clarify the directional dynamics linking eye movement and cortical activity, revealing a structured, context-sensitive neural architecture for affective processing.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1702298</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1702298</link>
        <title><![CDATA[dCA1 cells encode and update contextual place preference]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Kwon Choi</author><author>Ignitius Ezekiel Lim</author><author>Ajn Vats</author><author>Sonni Marie Tarver</author><author>Tashonda Benoit Vaughn</author><author>Olalekan Michael Ogundele</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Pyramidal cells in the dorsal hippocampus (dCA1) are excitatory neurons modulated by environmental cues. While a population of dCA1 cells encodes spatial location, other groups are activated by reward probability and encounters. Since “rewards” are predicted at “locations,” we sought to determine how spatiotemporal coding patterns in the dCA1 resolve contextual preference and subsequent change in preference that is driven by reward encounters. Specifically, we examined these encoding patterns in biased place-preference tasks for simple reward acquisition and for complex discrimination of reward magnitudes. Initial behavioral tests for mice without neural implants revealed a higher sensitivity to discriminating between two locations associated with reward magnitude, in comparison to reward detection. Analysis of dCA1 single-unit spatiotemporal activity during pre-conditioning revealed that these cells exhibited peak firing as they approached the less preferred context. Therefore, when the contextual preference is biased toward a reward or a higher-magnitude reward, a change in dCA1 firing rate around context entry events reflects the updated spatial preference. Interestingly, the context of lower preference with no associated reward or a lower-value reward elicits a stronger firing response than the alternative contexts with higher reward values. Together, we conclude that the spatiotemporal firing patterns of dCA1 single units and the threshold of peak FR change encode contextual preference. Ultimately, the spatiotemporal pattern is updated (remapped) when there is a change in the contextual preference driven by reward contingencies.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1773330</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1773330</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Quadrupedal training approaches in post-stroke rehabilitation: a scoping review of evidence, mechanisms, and clinical applications]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Jan A. Kuipers</author><author>Frederick R. Carrick</author><author>Monèm Jemni</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundPersistent impairments in trunk control, balance, and mobility are frequently observed after stroke, even after standard task-specific rehabilitation. Quadrupedal-derived training (QT)—which involves four-point support, dynamic contralateral tasks, transitional kneeling, and crawling—has attracted clinical interest because it may activate bilateral and spinal sensorimotor networks. Nonetheless, the evidence supporting QT has not been thoroughly systematically mapped. Objective: To synthesize the extent, characteristics, mechanisms, and clinical applications of quadrupedal-derived training in adult post-stroke rehabilitation.MethodsA scoping review was conducted in accordance with the JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. It involved searching five databases and additional sources from 2010 to 2025 to find studies on QT in stroke populations, along with mechanistic and translational evidence. The outcomes were pre-mapped to the International Classification of Functioning (ICF) domains. Data on intervention types, total dosage, supervision, progression criteria, safety, and feasibility were gathered. Stakeholder input from stroke survivors, clinicians, and researchers helped shape implementation considerations.ResultsEighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, including five randomized controlled trials and one case study involving stroke populations, as well as mechanistic and translational research. QT consistently improved trunk control and balance, with effects on functional mobility and certain gait parameters varying depending on the variant and dose. Kneeling-based QT showed greater balance benefits than treadmill-based training in subacute inpatient settings, while static and dynamic four-point variants were mainly used with chronic outpatient groups. No serious adverse events occurred, and adherence was high where recorded. Mechanistic evidence indicates a pathway connecting quadrupedal loading to activation of spinal and interlimb networks, bilateral proximal muscles, and functional improvements.ConclusionQuadrupedal-based training is a biologically plausible, resource-efficient, and clinically practical method for improving trunk and balance issues after a stroke. More well-designed studies that include standardized progression, dose–response evaluations, and neurophysiological biomarkers are needed.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1818506</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1818506</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Grand challenges for systems neuroscience: perspectives and opportunities]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Specialty Grand Challenge</category>
        <author>Wen-Jun Gao</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Systems neuroscience seeks to uncover how diverse neuronal populations and distributed neural types, circuits, and regions in the brain give rise to perception, learning, emotion, cognition, and behavior, and how dysfunction at any of these levels contributes to neurological and psychiatric disorders. The field has rapidly expanded from single-cell studies to large-scale, multimodal interrogation and manipulation of brain-wide activity, creating unprecedented opportunities alongside major conceptual and technical challenges. Systems neuroscience is at a pivotal moment, with advances in basic, translational, and clinical research converging to deepen understanding of how neural activity generates mental life.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1756407</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1756407</link>
        <title><![CDATA[EEG biomarkers of the sense of embodiment: methodological gaps and evidence-based recommendations from a systematic review]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Daniela Esteves</author><author>Athanasios Vourvopoulos</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe sense of embodiment (SoE), describing the experience of owning, controlling, and being located within a body, underpins virtual reality (VR) interaction, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and multisensory body-illusion research. Although SoE is typically assessed through subjective questionnaires, their variability and limited validity have motivated the search for objective neural markers. Electroencephalography (EEG) has become the most widely used technique given its portability and high temporal resolution; however, the existence of a consistent EEG correlate of embodiment remains unclear.MethodsThis systematic review summarizes 35 EEG studies (2010–June 2025) identified through structured database searches, examining SoE across immersive and non-immersive VR, augmented reality, and non-VR paradigms. We analyze EEG features including spectral power, event-related desynchronization/synchronization (ERD/ERS), connectivity, and temporal dynamics, and examine methodological variability in illusion induction and SoE assessment.ResultsAcross studies, the reduction of the alpha-band over central-parietal regions emerges as the most recurrent correlate of embodiment. Beta-band decreases and gamma-band increases appear in several studies but lack consistent replication, while findings in Delta and Theta bands remain sparse and contradictory. Considerable heterogeneity is found in VR paradigms, EEG setups, preprocessing, and psychometric tools, contributing to inconsistent results and limiting cross-study comparability.DiscussionCritically, no EEG feature demonstrates sufficient reproducibility to qualify as a universal biomarker of SoE, and no standardized protocol for EEG-based embodiment assessment currently exists. Overall, this review highlights both the promise and current limitations of EEG-based approaches to measuring embodiment. We conclude by identifying methodological gaps and outlining recommendations to support the development of reliable EEG markers for future applications in VR rehabilitation, MI-BCIs, cognitive neuroscience, and clinical interventions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1736474</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1736474</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Redefinition of EEG frequency bands: a fractal model inspired by Blagg’s Titius–Bode law]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-19T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Hypothesis and Theory</category>
        <author>Sultan Tarlacı</author><author>Metin Çınaroğlu</author><author>Eda Yılmazer</author><author>Selami Varol Ülker</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The canonical frequency bands used to categorize human electroencephalographic (EEG) activity—delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma—have historically been defined using pragmatic and variably applied thresholds rather than a unifying mathematical principle. In this theoretical study, we propose a geometric framework for redefining EEG frequency bands based on logarithmic scaling, drawing on the exponential formulation introduced in Mary Blagg’s refinement of the Titius–Bode law. Using the mean adult alpha rhythm as a reference frequency and applying a constant scaling ratio (R = 1.7275), we derive a mathematically ordered hierarchy of EEG band centers and boundaries within a continuous log-spaced spectrum. Unlike descriptive models of spectral 1/f scaling, the present framework provides an explicit generative rule for discrete band centers and transition frequencies. The resulting segmentation produces band definitions numerically consistent with commonly reported EEG frequency ranges while offering a fully proportional, non-overlapping structure. The model further introduces principled subdivisions within the alpha and gamma ranges and redefines the beta–gamma transition using geometric rather than conventional criteria. As a descriptive quantitative observation, the model-derived theta–alpha transition (∼7.98 Hz) lies in numerical proximity to the Earth’s fundamental Schumann resonance (∼7.83 Hz); this correspondence arises from the predefined geometric rule and does not imply causal interaction. Overall, the proposed framework reframes EEG band organization as a mathematically explicit, scale-invariant system and provides a hypothesis-generating basis for future empirical evaluation of oscillatory structure.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1754760</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1754760</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Is there a correlation between functional recovery of manual dexterity after motor cortex lesion and initial motor learning slope in the intact state?]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Brief Research Report</category>
        <author>Eric M. Rouiller</author>
        <description><![CDATA[A cohort of 13 adult macaques offered a unique opportunity to collect over several years manual dexterity data, from an initial learning phase in intact animals to a terminal phase of functional recovery after unilateral lesion of primary motor cortex (M1). Manual dexterity was assessed daily using the modified Brinkman Board task, yielding a total score given by the number of food pellets retrieved by one or the other hand from vertical and horizontal slots. A motor learning curve slope was established during the initial learning phase before reaching a stable performance with the dominant hand. Later, following contralateral M1 lesion, the manual dexterity score dropped to zero, before a progressive spontaneous functional recovery occurred, reaching a unique plateau of usually incomplete recovery. A recovery curve slope was calculated. In six of the 13 monkeys, a treatment aimed at enhancing the functional recovery of manual dexterity was applied, yielding a second plateau of recovery added to the first spontaneous recovery plateau. A recovery curve slope was also calculated for the second plateau. The hypothesis that steep initial motor learning is correlated with rapid and efficient functional recovery after M1 lesion was tested. In contradiction to this hypothesis, the data showed an inverse correlation with decreasing recovery curve slopes as a function of increasing learning curve slopes. This result suggests that the mechanisms underlying initial motor learning may be different from those mobilized for functional recovery after M1 lesion.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1765204</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1765204</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Neural coding in gustatory cortex reflects consumption decisions: evidence from conditioned taste aversion]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-17T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Martin A. Raymond</author><author>Ian F. Chapman</author><author>Stephanie M. Staszko</author><author>Max L. Fletcher</author><author>John D. Boughter</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Taste-responsive neurons in the gustatory cortex (GC) have been shown to encode multiple properties of stimuli, including whether they are palatable or not. Previous studies have suggested that a form of taste-involved learning, conditioned taste aversion (CTA), may alter the cortical representation of taste stimuli in a number of ways. We used miniscopes to image taste responses from a large population of neurons in the gustatory cortex of mice before and after CTA to NaCl, comparing taste responses in control and conditioned mice. Following conditioning, no significant effects on the number of responsive cells, or the magnitude of response to either NaCl or other taste stimuli were found. However, population-level analyses showed that in mice receiving a CTA, the representation of NaCl diverged from other appetitive stimuli in neural space and moved closer to that of aversive Quinine. We also tracked the extinction of the CTA in a subset of animals and showed that as NaCl became less aversive, the neural pattern reverted to match the behavior. These data suggest that the predominant function of the taste representation in GC is palatability; the neuronal response pattern to stimuli at the population level reflects the decision of the animal to consume or not consume the stimulus, regardless of quality or chemical identity.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1753562</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1753562</link>
        <title><![CDATA[When the gatekeeper falls: developmental vulnerability of the thalamic reticular nucleus in neonatal and pediatric hypoxic-ischemic brain injury]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Kuangfu Hsiao</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The thalamic reticular nucleus orchestrates thalamocortical oscillations and sensory gating. Its early development features a unique confluence of depolarizing GABA signaling, immature chloride regulation, and transient electrical coupling via connexin-36 gap junctions. These developmental specializations, essential for synchronizing cortical maturation, also render thalamocortical networks vulnerable to hypoxic–ischemic insults such as perinatal asphyxia or pediatric cardiac arrest. Following cellular ATP depletion, rapid chloride imbalance eliminates fast synaptic inhibition, permitting abnormal network activity to propagate via gap-junction coupling that persists when chemical inhibition collapses. The resulting electrical hypersynchrony, exacerbated by depolarizing GABAergic currents and impaired chloride extrusion, promotes excitotoxicity and thalamocortical dysrhythmia. This review synthesizes recent evidence to establish a framework that accounts for the selective vulnerability of the immature brain. Understanding these mechanisms may inform strategies to preserve developmental integrity and promote circuit resilience after pediatric asphyxial events.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1775973</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1775973</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Enhanced predictive saccade strategies and spatial prediction accuracy in first-person shooter-specialized players]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-09T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ryo Koshizawa</author><author>Zdeněk Ledvina</author><author>Jakub Pospíšil</author><author>Ondřej Peleška</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionPredictive gaze behavior is essential in fast-paced esport environments; however, the visuomotor and neural mechanisms supporting predictive saccades in competitive first-person shooter (FPS) players remain insufficiently understood. This study investigated whether FPS-specialized players exhibit enhanced predictive saccade strategies compared to individuals without competitive FPS experience.MethodsSeventeen active gamers were assigned to either an FPS-specialized group (n = 6) or a non-FPS group (n = 11). Participants performed a target-arrival prediction task in which a parabolically moving target was occluded midway through its trajectory. They were instructed to fixate on the starting point, execute a predictive saccade toward the internally estimated arrival position, maintain fixation, and press a button at their judged arrival time. Position Error (PE) was derived from gaze and button-press data. Low-beta (12–16 Hz) electroencephalography (EEG) activity was extracted using the Hilbert transform and group differences were assessed using time-series statistics and cluster-based permutation testing.ResultsThe FPS-specialized group exhibited earlier emergence of predictive gaze shifts toward the anticipated arrival position and demonstrated substantially smaller spatial prediction errors, including reduced PE values. These behavioral advantages were accompanied by increased low-beta activity in right Brodmann area (BA) 7, left BA40, and left BA6—regions, associated with spatial prediction, visuomotor integration, and predictive motor planning.ConclusionThese findings suggest that competitive FPS experience cultivates a coordinated visuomotor prediction system that supports earlier initiation and improved accuracy of predictive saccade behavior.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1739960</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1739960</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Dynamics of synchronous bursts in functionally coupled midbrain dopamine neurons driven by diverse excitatory inputs]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-04T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Meng-Jiao Chen</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Phasic dopamine (DA) release is related to reward processing and addiction. The prevailing view posits that this DA release originates from synchronous bursts of DA neuron groups, rather than individual neuron bursts. However, the mechanism by which diverse excitatory inputs synergistically induce synchronous bursts remains unclear. In biophysically realistic networks with complex structure, the responses of functionally connected DA neurons to various excitatory inputs are examined. Activating NMDA receptors alone results in asynchronous bursts, while co-activating with muscarinic receptors significantly enhances burst synchronization. The synchronization trends display qualitatively similar characteristics across all tested topological networks, indicating that these synchronous bursts are universal. Research on a dual-node network reveals that inhibitory couplings, specifically the inward rectifying K+ currents activated by G protein linked to D2 receptors (D2-GIRK currents), participate in inducing synchronous bursts. A detailed analysis of decoupled DA neurons shows that these synchronous bursts are induced by transitioning bursts from integrator-like to resonator-like behavior, a process dependent on sufficient intracellular Ca2+ accumulation. NMDA receptors directly supply Ca2+, while muscarinic receptors indirectly provide Ca2+ by enhancing calcium-activated, nonspecific cation (CAN) current, causing depolarization, and activating L-type calcium channels. Therefore, simultaneous activation of both receptors is more effective in achieving the required Ca2+ accumulation than activating either receptor alone. These findings elucidate the mechanism by which diverse excitatory inputs work together to induce synchronous bursts, providing new insights into their inductions and regulations, potentially advancing our understanding of the physiological diversity of phasic DA releases and their addictive abnormalities.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1724421</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1724421</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Network localization of functional and structural correlates of apathy in Parkinson’s disease]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-03T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Hu-Cheng Yang</author><author>Si-Yu Gu</author><author>Hai-Hua Sun</author><author>Yuan-Ying Song</author><author>Feng-Mei Zhang</author><author>Zhen-Yu Dai</author><author>Ping-Lei Pan</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundApathy is a prevalent and debilitating neuropsychiatric syndrome in Parkinson’s disease (PD). While numerous functional and structural brain studies have investigated the neural correlates of PD with apathy (PD-A), their findings have often been inconsistent. Network neuroscience suggests that such a syndrome may be best understood as disruptions of distributed brain networks.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review to identify whole-brain studies reporting functional or structural alterations in patients with PD-A compared to those without apathy (PD-NA), or studies correlating apathy severity. Significant peak coordinates (195 foci from 24 studies) were integrated using functional connectivity network mapping (FCNM), leveraging resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging from 1,093 healthy Human Connectome Project (HCP) participants. We quantified spatial overlap between the PD-A-associated network and canonical brain networks.ResultsThe FCNM analysis revealed that the spatially diverse brain regions previously reported in the PD-A literature converged onto a common functional connectivity network. This network predominantly involved the bilateral inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral anterior insula, bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral caudate nucleus, and bilateral thalamus. The PD-A associated network showed the highest spatial overlap with the ventral attention network (VAN; 34.05%), subcortical network (28.47%), and frontoparietal network (FPN; 24.89%). Robustness analyses confirmed these findings.ConclusionBrain functional and structural correlates of apathy in PD converge on distributed networks involving the VAN, FPN, and subcortical circuits. Our network localization approach offers a unifying neurobiological framework for apathy in PD, potentially reconciling previous inconsistencies and informing the development of network-targeted interventions.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1778604</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1778604</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Functional sufficiency in VR: achieving non-corporeal embodiment]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Hypothesis and Theory</category>
        <author>Malcolm Wright</author><author>Olivia Petit</author><author>Alexander Schnack</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This article provides a novel functionalist account of embodiment in immersive virtual environments, grounded in a formal model of cognition, supported by past empirical evidence, and offering a testable framework for predicting when virtual experiences will produce cognitive and emotional effects. Our approach complements existing work on telepresence and subjective experience by applying the Thin Model as an intermediate theory linking interface affordances to perception, emotion, and behavior. Drawing on previously published immersive virtual reality studies, we show that when key functional elements - such as sensing, recognition, inspection, and feedback - are preserved, behavioral and emotional outcomes remain stable even when locomotion mechanisms differ. These findings support a criterion of functional sufficiency for embodiment where interface substitution leaves core policies of action unchanged. We outline a set of theory-driven tests to identify the limits of this invariance and argue that embodiment should be defined by the integrity of the perception–action loop, not by anatomical mimicry.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1804343</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2026.1804343</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Editorial: Quantum electromagnetic photon-mediated communication in neuronal networks]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-25T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Editorial</category>
        <author>Marco Cavaglià</author><author>Marco Pettini</author><author>Travis J. A. Craddock</author><author>Aristide Dogariu</author>
        <description></description>
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