Molecular, Biophysical, and Neurophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Magnetoreception
A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 50
Special Issue Editors
Interests: bielectromagnetics; entomology; magnetosensing; migration; navigation
Interests: entomology; magnetosensing; migration; navigation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Magnetoreception is the ability of animals to detect the Earth’s magnetic field for the purpose of orientation and navigation during long distance migration across species of many major phyla. For over 40 years, there has been an increasing interest in the understanding of molecular, biophysical, and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying magnetoreception. The following several models have been proposed to explain the nature of magnetoreception magnetite-based model, as shown in magnetotactic bacteria and Apis mellifera; radical-pair–reaction-based chemical model, as highlighted by radical pairs formed with the photoexcitation of cryptochrome in animals and plants; and the model of detecting minute electric fields by rs in elasmobranch animals.
The above-mentioned models have credible theoretical and experimental foundations, and may not be mutually exclusive; however, evidence from distinct species tends to surpass one theory over the other. Therefore, the existence of multiple molecular, biophysical, and neurophysiological mechanisms underlying magnetoreception is possible. The central questions lie in whether phylogenetically proximate animals utilize akin mechanisms to sense magnetic fields but decode them differently.
This Special Issue, titled “Molecular, Biophysical, and Neurophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Magnetoreception”, aims to gather and publish recent proceedings in the field of magnetoreception. We welcome all reviews and research articles regarding mechanisms involved in magnetoreception in animals at molecular, biophysical, and neurophysiological levels. This also includes experimental research and theoretical analysis. Topics of interest include the following:
- Hypomagnetic or weak magnetic fields.
- Behavioral phenomena in birds and other species, including humans.
- Underlying mechanisms with magnetoreception.
- Identification and characterization of specific magnetic receptors.
- Hardware and software construction for magnetoreception research.
- Computational simulation and experimental assessment.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Weidong Pan
Dr. Guijun Wan
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- earth magnetic field
- magnetosensing
- magnetite
- radical pair
- orientation
- navigation
- magnetic receptor
- electroreceptor
- neurophysiology
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