Brain energy metabolism is a fundamental aspect of neural function, as the brain, while accounting for only about 2% of body weight, consumes roughly 20% of the body’s energy. Efficient energy use is crucial for maintaining neuronal activity, synaptic transmission, and overall brain health. Disruptions in metabolic processes are linked to a wide range of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, and stroke. Understanding how energy is produced, distributed, and utilized in the brain is essential for uncovering the mechanisms that support cognition and behavior. Computational approaches provide powerful tools to model these complex metabolic networks, simulate energy dynamics, and integrate multi-scale data from molecular, cellular, and systems levels. With growing advances in neuroimaging, metabolic profiling, and data-driven modeling, computational neuroscience is increasingly positioned to offer new insights into brain energetics.
Brain energy metabolism is essential for supporting neural activity, yet its complex, multiscale nature makes it difficult to fully understand. Disruptions in metabolic processes are linked to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke, but experimental studies alone often cannot capture the full dynamics of these systems. Computational approaches offer powerful tools to model and simulate brain energy use, integrating data across molecular, cellular, and network levels. Recent advances in metabolic imaging, systems biology, and high-throughput data have enabled more detailed, predictive models of brain energetics.
This Research Topic seeks contributions that use computational methods to explore brain energy metabolism. We welcome models of metabolic pathways, neuron-glia interactions, and simulations linking energy dynamics to brain function or dysfunction. The goal is to deepen our understanding of brain energetics and support new approaches to diagnosing and treating energy-related brain disorders.
This Research Topic welcomes original research, reviews, and methods papers on computational modeling of brain energy metabolism. Key themes include simulations of metabolic pathways, neuron-glia interactions, and energy demands during neural activity. We encourage studies linking metabolism to brain function or dysfunction, particularly in disorders like Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, or stroke. Data-driven models using imaging or omics data and multiscale approaches connecting cellular metabolism to behavior are also welcome. Interdisciplinary work combining neuroscience, systems biology, and computational modeling is encouraged to advance understanding of brain energetics in health and disease.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Conceptual Analysis
Data Report
Editorial
FAIR² Data
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
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Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
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