Rethinking Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Beyond One-Size-Fits-All

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2026 | Viewed by 1627

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Spatial Perception and Memory Lab, Department of Neuroscience, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
Interests: neuroscience; behavior and behavior mechanism; neurobiology and brain physiology; neurodevelopmental disorders

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neurodevelopmental disorders are a diverse group of conditions that arise from atypical brain development and functioning, often manifesting early in life. Accumulating research in neuroimaging, genomics, and neurobiology has improved our understanding, yet many underlying mechanisms and etiology remain poorly understood. Research indicates that disruptions in neural connectivity, synaptic plasticity, and neurotransmitter systems play critical roles in the pathophysiology of these disorders. However, no single pathway accounts for all cases; rather, multiple interacting biological pathways contribute to the diverse clinical presentations observed. In this Special Issue, we invite researchers to submit relevant papers that think “outside the box” and we particularly welcome in vivo, in vitro, and mathematical models, as well as theoretical studies on new concepts and novel models that can be applied to the exploration of the homo-heterogeneity in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Dr. Salman Zubedat
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • ADHD
  • autism
  • intellectual disability
  • communication disorders

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

32 pages, 1782 KB  
Review
Neurobiological and Behavioral Heterogeneity in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
by Gerry Leisman, Rahela Alfasi and Robert Melillo
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(10), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15101057 - 28 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1483
Abstract
Background: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display distinct neurodevelopmental trajectories marked by atypical neural activation and white matter maturation compared to neurotypical peers. Introduction: While improvements in face recognition and cognitive skills occur during childhood and adolescence, individuals with ASD often experience [...] Read more.
Background: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display distinct neurodevelopmental trajectories marked by atypical neural activation and white matter maturation compared to neurotypical peers. Introduction: While improvements in face recognition and cognitive skills occur during childhood and adolescence, individuals with ASD often experience a plateau in these areas as they transition to adulthood, impacting daily living, executive function, social cognition, and emotional awareness. Results: Neuroimaging studies reveal altered white matter growth and connectivity in brain regions associated with social processing, which may underlie these functional challenges. Intellectual disability further compounds developmental difficulties by limiting foundational abilities and slowing progress. Discussion: The multifaceted and persistent service needs spanning legal, educational, vocational, health, and psychosocial domains highlight the necessity for coordinated, individualized, and family-centered approaches, particularly during the transition to adulthood. Advances in research integrating genetic, neurobiological, and behavioral data hold potential for refining diagnostic subgroups and personalizing interventions. Conclusion: Continued advocacy and innovation in service delivery are essential to address gaps in adult support systems and enhance long-term outcomes for individuals with ASD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Rethinking Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Beyond One-Size-Fits-All)
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