Perception Across Disciplines: Exploring the Intersections of Cognitive, Social, Affective and Neural Dimensions

Dear Colleagues,

Perception is a fundamental aspect of human cognition that influences how we interpret the world, interact with our surroundings, and construct meaning. It is a phenomenon studied in fields as diverse as linguistics, psychology, computer science, data science, medical science, philosophy, and beyond. This Special Issue seeks to create a shared space for exploring how perception operates at neural, cognitive, computational, and societal levels. Whether your work focuses on the biological underpinnings of sensory processing, the philosophical nature of subjective experience, or the technological applications of perceptual research, this is your opportunity to engage with a global community of thinkers. This Special Issue is intentionally inclusive to represent work from any disciplinary perspective or methodological approach. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Neural and Biological Foundations (sensory processing in the brain: vision, audition, touch, taste, and smell; Multisensory integration and cross-modal interactions; categorical vs. gradient perception; neuroplasticity and perceptual adaptation).
2. Cognitive and Behavioral Dimensions (embodied and embedded approaches to perception; attention, memory, and decision-making in perceptual tasks; developmental and evolutionary perspectives on perception).
3. Linguistic and Cultural Influences (the interplay between language and perception (e.g., linguistic relativity); cross-cultural differences in perceptual processing; the role of perception in reading and writing systems).
4. Computational and Data-Driven Approaches (machine learning models of sensory and perceptual processes; predictive coding, Bayesian inference, and other theoretical frameworks; Big Data Analytics and perceptual datasets).
5. Medical and Clinical Applications (altered perception and sensory issues in neurological and psychiatric conditions; rehabilitation strategies for sensory impairments; advances in neuroprosthetics and sensory substitution technologies).
6. Philosophical and Ethical Considerations (the nature of subjective experience and qualia; realism vs. constructivism in the philosophy of perception; ethical implications of manipulating or enhancing perception through technology).
7. Interdisciplinary Developments (perception in social cognition, emotion, and communication; applications in virtual reality, augmented reality, and human–computer interactions; the role of perception in art, aesthetics, and cultural practices).

Why Contribute? This Special Issue on the science of perception across disciplines offers a unique platform to showcase your work alongside leading experts from diverse fields. By contributing, you will help shape the future of perception research and foster collaborations that transcend traditional academic boundaries. This Special Issue in a rising open-access journal aims for efficient and rigorous quality peer review and is designed to inspire innovative thinking, challenge existing paradigms, and advance our collective understanding of perception as a universal yet deeply personal phenomenon.

Submission Guidelines: We welcome a wide range of contributions, including the following:

    Original Research Articles: Empirical studies using cutting-edge methodologies.

    Review Articles: Comprehensive syntheses of current knowledge and future directions.

    Theoretical Essays: Philosophical, conceptual, or speculative explorations of perception.

    Methodological Innovations: New tools, techniques, or datasets for studying perception.

    Perspectives and Commentaries: Short pieces offering critical insights or provocations.

All submissions must adhere to the journal’s guidelines. Submissions will undergo a rigorous peer review process to ensure high quality and scientific relevance. Discounts on the APC fee or APC waiver may be available based on the discretion of the editorial office.

Prof. Dr. Yang Zhang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• sensory processing
• cognitive systems
• perception-action binding
• multimodal processing
• neural foundations
• socio-affective systems
• computational models
• interdisciplinary research