Dear Colleagues,

Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders are being studied at multiple levels. What we experience as mental illness can be studied at the psychological level, with a specific a focus on psychological symptoms, cognitive dysfunctions and affective disorders, as well as on a biological level, to elucidate molecular, cellular and brain circuit mechanisms underlying these pathological states.

Many branches of Neuroscience can help us understand the underlying biological factors and neural computations behind brain alterations and psychiatric disorders, as well as determine where and how to focus research and treatment. Currently, the great majority of neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases lack effective disease-modifying treatments, thus highlighting the urgent need for new and effective therapeutic strategies. In recent years, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial electric current stimulation (TES), have been developed. These techniques are currently being investigated in patients experiencing both neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

This Special Issue highlights the most recent advances in experimental, clinical, and translational research in the fields of neurology and neuropsychiatry, focusing on neural correlates in the development of cognitive impairment and emotional disturbance. We invite authors to contribute original research articles focusing on (but not limited to) the following:

•    Etiology, pathogenesis and progression mechanisms;
•    Early diagnosis including biomarkers, bio-imaging, and biosensors;
•    Prophylactic, disease-modifying and therapeutic strategies;
•    Novel drug discovery and development, naturally driven biomedicines, natural bioactive molecules and vaccines;
•    Preclinical in vitro and animal models;
•    Bench-to-bedside translational research;
•    Bedside-to-bench translational research;
•    Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) for diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Comprehensive reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis articles are also welcome.

Dr. Masaru Tanaka and Dr. Simone Battaglia

Guest Editors