Teleosts are the largest group of ray-finned fishes or Actinopterygii, with more than 26,000 species adapted to very different environments and ecological niches. They show a wide range of variation in brain morphology and organization, which most likely contributes to behavioral diversity between species. This variability is predominantly observed in the forebrain. The teleostean forebrain shows some peculiar traits, such as an everted arrangement of telencephalic territories relative to other vertebrates along with far-migrated nuclei in the posterior tubercle, the main gateway for sensory information to the telencephalon. Although previous studies have yielded a wealth of knowledge, there are still many open questions regarding the teleostean forebrain.
With this Research Topic, we aim to bring together current research on forebrain organization, function and evolution across all teleost species. Research with state-of-the-art techniques, including genetic labelling and manipulation in model teleost species, such as zebrafish and medaka fish, will allow us to generate a precise connectivity map and functional organization of the forebrain. Research with “non-model” teleost species will shed light on the diversity of architecture in the forebrain, providing insights into behavioral variation and evolution. We will also provide an update on both past and present research on teleostean forebrain neuroanatomy, delivering a reference for researchers in the field. We are confident that this Research Topic will contribute to significantly advancing understanding of the teleostean forebrain and make this group of organisms even more fascinating for future neuroscience studies.
Some members of the teleost group, such as goldfish, carp, catfish and trout, have been traditionally used to determine conserved and derived traits of the vertebrate forebrain. Another member of the group, zebrafish, is nowadays widely used in neuroscience research because of its amenability to genetic approaches. However, zebrafish has a short history as a neuroanatomy model, and hence its forebrain organization is still poorly understood. This Research Topic aims for a better understanding of the teleost forebrain anatomy, both as a whole and its individual regions. This will be addressed by means of Original Research papers and Reviews tackling questions regarding forebrain organization, development and connectivity, as well as aspects of its function and evolution. Review papers with a comparative approach, including various vertebrate groups are also welcome, providing that teleosts occupy a pivotal position in the analysis. To avoid adding confusion to the field, homologies between teleosts and other vertebrates proposed must be based on strong evidence.
Teleosts are the largest group of ray-finned fishes or Actinopterygii, with more than 26,000 species adapted to very different environments and ecological niches. They show a wide range of variation in brain morphology and organization, which most likely contributes to behavioral diversity between species. This variability is predominantly observed in the forebrain. The teleostean forebrain shows some peculiar traits, such as an everted arrangement of telencephalic territories relative to other vertebrates along with far-migrated nuclei in the posterior tubercle, the main gateway for sensory information to the telencephalon. Although previous studies have yielded a wealth of knowledge, there are still many open questions regarding the teleostean forebrain.
With this Research Topic, we aim to bring together current research on forebrain organization, function and evolution across all teleost species. Research with state-of-the-art techniques, including genetic labelling and manipulation in model teleost species, such as zebrafish and medaka fish, will allow us to generate a precise connectivity map and functional organization of the forebrain. Research with “non-model” teleost species will shed light on the diversity of architecture in the forebrain, providing insights into behavioral variation and evolution. We will also provide an update on both past and present research on teleostean forebrain neuroanatomy, delivering a reference for researchers in the field. We are confident that this Research Topic will contribute to significantly advancing understanding of the teleostean forebrain and make this group of organisms even more fascinating for future neuroscience studies.
Some members of the teleost group, such as goldfish, carp, catfish and trout, have been traditionally used to determine conserved and derived traits of the vertebrate forebrain. Another member of the group, zebrafish, is nowadays widely used in neuroscience research because of its amenability to genetic approaches. However, zebrafish has a short history as a neuroanatomy model, and hence its forebrain organization is still poorly understood. This Research Topic aims for a better understanding of the teleost forebrain anatomy, both as a whole and its individual regions. This will be addressed by means of Original Research papers and Reviews tackling questions regarding forebrain organization, development and connectivity, as well as aspects of its function and evolution. Review papers with a comparative approach, including various vertebrate groups are also welcome, providing that teleosts occupy a pivotal position in the analysis. To avoid adding confusion to the field, homologies between teleosts and other vertebrates proposed must be based on strong evidence.
