About this Research Topic
The evolutionary conserved brainstem regulates the processing of information from a variety of sensory modalities and is critical for many vital processes, such as respiration, heart rate, blood rate, and even defense behaviors. An astonishing trait of the mature brainstem is the enormous diversity of neuron types that compose it. These neurons vary from morphological and electrophysiological properties to connectivity and organizational patterns. How this neuronal diversity develops and contributes to individual functional circuits is currently being intensively investigated.
The brainstem plays a crucial role in controlling and regulating respiration, which is the process of breathing. Specifically, the brainstem houses several vital structures involved in the control of respiration, including the medulla oblongata and the pons. Together, these brainstem structures receive inputs from various sources, including chemoreceptors that sense the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH in the blood. Other inputs, such as those from higher brain centers and sensory feedback from the lungs, also contribute to respiratory control.
This Research Topic aims to integrate the current vistas on brainstem research. For this, we welcome submissions on i) molecular and cellular processes that secure the correct development of the brainstem and/or specific brainstem neuron populations, and ii) physiological advances in sensory-motor and homeostatic brainstem circuits in both health and disease. Research on vestibular, auditory, and cardiorespiratory functions is welcomed.
Our Research Topic aims to integrate current knowledge in brainstem research, specifically focusing on two main areas:
i) Molecular and cellular processes that ensure the proper development of the brainstem and/or specific neuron populations within this brain structure.
Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying brainstem development is crucial for unraveling its functional organization and potential dysfunctions. Submissions in this area could explore topics such as the molecular cues and signaling pathways involved in the specification, migration, and differentiation of brainstem neurons. Researchers may investigate how genetic factors, epigenetic modifications, and environmental cues contribute to the precise assembly of brainstem circuits during embryonic and postnatal development.
Additionally, studies elucidating the formation of specific brainstem nuclei or the establishment of connections with other brain regions would be relevant.
ii) Physiological advances in sensory-motor and homeostatic brainstem circuits, both in healthy conditions and disease states.
This aspect of the Research Topic focuses on understanding the functional aspects of brainstem circuits related to sensory-motor processing and homeostatic regulation. Submissions could cover investigations into the neural mechanisms underlying sensory processing, motor control, and the integration of sensory inputs with motor outputs within the brainstem. Additionally, studies exploring the role of brainstem circuits in maintaining homeostases, such as cardiorespiratory functions, vestibular processing, or auditory processing, would be relevant. This could include investigations into the neural circuitry, neurotransmitter systems, and neural coding within the brainstem related to these functions. Research examining brainstem dysfunction in various diseases or disorders could also be included in this area.
Overall, this Research Topic seeks to integrate current advancements in brainstem research, encompassing both the molecular and cellular processes involved in brainstem development and the physiological aspects of sensory-motor and homeostatic brainstem circuits, with a particular emphasis on vestibular, auditory, and cardiorespiratory functions. By bringing together research from these different areas, a more comprehensive understanding of the brainstem's role in health and disease can be achieved.
We encourage the submission of works focused on the following topics, but we are interested in all branches of brainstem research:
1) Brainstem patterning and brainstem neuronal specification
2) Development and function of cardiorespiratory circuits
3) Development and function of auditory circuits
4) Development and function of vestibular circuits
5) Serotonergic and adrenergic brainstem nuclei
6) Midbrain-pontine-medullary and cerebellar-medullary circuits
Any other research on brainstem development and function is equally accepted. All researchers interested in contributing with Original Research, Reviews/Mini-Reviews, Methods, Hypothesis/Theory, Opinions, and Commentaries are welcome. We wish to make this Research Topic a repository for the brainstem community.
The brainstem plays a crucial role in controlling and regulating respiration, which is the process of breathing. Specifically, the brainstem houses several vital structures involved in the control of respiration, including the medulla oblongata and the pons. Together, these brainstem structures receive inputs from various sources, including chemoreceptors that sense the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and pH in the blood. Other inputs, such as those from higher brain centers and sensory feedback from the lungs, also contribute to respiratory control.
This Research Topic aims to integrate the current vistas on brainstem research. For this, we welcome submissions on i) molecular and cellular processes that secure the correct development of the brainstem and/or specific brainstem neuron populations, and ii) physiological advances in sensory-motor and homeostatic brainstem circuits in both health and disease. Research on vestibular, auditory, and cardiorespiratory functions is welcomed.
Our Research Topic aims to integrate current knowledge in brainstem research, specifically focusing on two main areas:
i) Molecular and cellular processes that ensure the proper development of the brainstem and/or specific neuron populations within this brain structure.
Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying brainstem development is crucial for unraveling its functional organization and potential dysfunctions. Submissions in this area could explore topics such as the molecular cues and signaling pathways involved in the specification, migration, and differentiation of brainstem neurons. Researchers may investigate how genetic factors, epigenetic modifications, and environmental cues contribute to the precise assembly of brainstem circuits during embryonic and postnatal development.
Additionally, studies elucidating the formation of specific brainstem nuclei or the establishment of connections with other brain regions would be relevant.
ii) Physiological advances in sensory-motor and homeostatic brainstem circuits, both in healthy conditions and disease states.
This aspect of the Research Topic focuses on understanding the functional aspects of brainstem circuits related to sensory-motor processing and homeostatic regulation. Submissions could cover investigations into the neural mechanisms underlying sensory processing, motor control, and the integration of sensory inputs with motor outputs within the brainstem. Additionally, studies exploring the role of brainstem circuits in maintaining homeostases, such as cardiorespiratory functions, vestibular processing, or auditory processing, would be relevant. This could include investigations into the neural circuitry, neurotransmitter systems, and neural coding within the brainstem related to these functions. Research examining brainstem dysfunction in various diseases or disorders could also be included in this area.
Overall, this Research Topic seeks to integrate current advancements in brainstem research, encompassing both the molecular and cellular processes involved in brainstem development and the physiological aspects of sensory-motor and homeostatic brainstem circuits, with a particular emphasis on vestibular, auditory, and cardiorespiratory functions. By bringing together research from these different areas, a more comprehensive understanding of the brainstem's role in health and disease can be achieved.
We encourage the submission of works focused on the following topics, but we are interested in all branches of brainstem research:
1) Brainstem patterning and brainstem neuronal specification
2) Development and function of cardiorespiratory circuits
3) Development and function of auditory circuits
4) Development and function of vestibular circuits
5) Serotonergic and adrenergic brainstem nuclei
6) Midbrain-pontine-medullary and cerebellar-medullary circuits
Any other research on brainstem development and function is equally accepted. All researchers interested in contributing with Original Research, Reviews/Mini-Reviews, Methods, Hypothesis/Theory, Opinions, and Commentaries are welcome. We wish to make this Research Topic a repository for the brainstem community.
Keywords: Brainstem, Hindbrain, Auditory circuits, Vestibular circuits, Respiratory circuits, Pontine Circuits, Raphe nuclei, Noradrenergic system, locus coeruleus.
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.
