About this Research Topic
To understand the many complex functions encoded by the brain, neuroscientists have classically used neurochemical, morphological and electrophysiological characteristics to classify and study defined neuronal populations. Recent progress in our understanding of the brain has been fueled by the development of novel neurotechnologies and genetic tools for mapping, monitoring and manipulating neuronal ensembles and associated circuits with increasing precision. Despite these technological advancements, modern neuroscience still mostly relies on classic criteria to categorize and therefore gain access to specific cell types, oftentimes defined by the expression of a single gene of interest. However, with the recent introduction of high-throughput techniques with single cell resolution, few but compelling examples have shown that neuronal populations, previously considered to be homogeneous, are composed of discrete and specialized subunits, differing in developmental origin, gene expression profiles, electrophysiological signatures, input-output connectivity and ultimately their control of behavioral phenotypes. Whether such heterogeneity is a widespread property of the central nervous system remains unanswered.
The goal of this Research Topic is to gather perspectives that advance our knowledge of cell subtypes and associated connections in the brain that regulate complex motivational processes and their involvement in disease. The identification and characterization of novel neuronal subsets displaying unique functions in reward, emotion, arousal, learning and memory, and appetitive behavior will help to disentangle the complexity observed within neuronal systems. Aside from advancing our basic understanding of brain functions, emerging structure-function maps will have the potential to inform the development of more effective therapeutic strategies, aimed at selective pharmacological targeting of specific neuronal populations without interfering with the function of other subtypes, thereby dramatically reducing side effects.
This Research Topic welcomes contributions that include, but are not limited to:
- Anatomical studies with retrograde/anterograde tracers to identify subpopulations defined by their projection pattern
- Novel methods/approaches that identify neuronal subpopulations (i.e. viral and intersectional genetic methods, nanobodies, genetically encoded indicators and sensors, single cell characterizations)
- Identification of novel neuronal subpopulations on the basis of their unique molecular, neurochemical, or electrophysiological signatures and/or behavioral output
- Perspectives on heterogeneity within a given neuronal system or recent methodological advances to uncover cellular and functional diversification
The goal of this Research Topic is to gather perspectives that advance our knowledge of cell subtypes and associated connections in the brain that regulate complex motivational processes and their involvement in disease. The identification and characterization of novel neuronal subsets displaying unique functions in reward, emotion, arousal, learning and memory, and appetitive behavior will help to disentangle the complexity observed within neuronal systems. Aside from advancing our basic understanding of brain functions, emerging structure-function maps will have the potential to inform the development of more effective therapeutic strategies, aimed at selective pharmacological targeting of specific neuronal populations without interfering with the function of other subtypes, thereby dramatically reducing side effects.
This Research Topic welcomes contributions that include, but are not limited to:
- Anatomical studies with retrograde/anterograde tracers to identify subpopulations defined by their projection pattern
- Novel methods/approaches that identify neuronal subpopulations (i.e. viral and intersectional genetic methods, nanobodies, genetically encoded indicators and sensors, single cell characterizations)
- Identification of novel neuronal subpopulations on the basis of their unique molecular, neurochemical, or electrophysiological signatures and/or behavioral output
- Perspectives on heterogeneity within a given neuronal system or recent methodological advances to uncover cellular and functional diversification
Keywords: Heterogeneity, Neural Diversity, Neuronal Subpopulations, Intersectional Approaches, Neural Circuits
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.
