Fresh Perspectives on Comparative Neuroanatomy: How the Nervous Systems of Animals Inform Us About the Human Nervous System

Our main goal in neuroscience is advancing the understanding of the human nervous system and the mechanisms behind its disorders. However, many invasive techniques and genetic tools, that uniquely provide gold standard results in neuroanatomy, can only be utilized on animals. Moreover, less complex nervous systems can more easily reveal architectural principles also present in humans. Therefore, in the current collection we are in search of the latest findings about these principles, emphasizing the current challenges in extrapolating the results to humans.



To reveal significant similarities and/or significant differences in the neuroanatomy of animals compared to humans. We aim for the emergence of new common principles of organization, as well as new striking differences in the architectures of their nervous systems. This should result in fresh avenues and boundaries in translating future animal research into applications to the human nervous system.



Novel neuroanatomical descriptions of any structure(s) and/or networks(s) of the animal nervous system, at any scale. A specific requirement is to include a comparison with the closest equivalent from the human nervous system, at least in a distinct paragraph of the Discussion. Studies that include two or more animal species are particularly encouraged. We welcome original research articles as well as reviews / mini reviews that promote new ideas and hypotheses to advance the field. We strongly encourage contributions led by both early / mid career and more established researchers.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: animals, humans, comparative neuroanatomy, organizational principles, differences

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.