Sleep Disorders: Bridging Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Translation

Dear Colleagues,

Sleep disorders affect nearly every domain of human health, contributing to neurocognitive decline, metabolic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and reduced quality of life. Their prevalence is rising worldwide, yet the neurobiological mechanisms behind them and effective interventions against them remain only partly understood. This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive platform that integrates basic and clinical perspectives on sleep disorders, advancing knowledge and translating it into practical applications.

We welcome original research and review articles that address fundamental mechanisms underlying sleep regulation and disruption, including neural circuitry, neurotransmitter systems, circadian biology, genetic factors, and neuroinflammation. Submissions exploring clinical aspects—such as insomnia, narcolepsy, REM sleep behaviour disorder, sleep apnoea, hypersomnia, and sleep disturbances in neurological and psychiatric diseases—are highly encouraged. Studies identifying biomarkers, advancing neuroimaging approaches, or developing innovative therapies (behavioural, pharmacological, or technological) will be of particular interest.

By uniting contributions across neuroscience, medicine, and computational sciences, this Special Issue aims to deepen our understanding of sleep disorders and promote the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies that can be implemented in real-world settings. 

Background and History of the Topic

Sleep disorders have emerged as major public health concerns, often preceding or exacerbating neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions. Advances in genetics, neuroimaging, and systems neuroscience have provided new insights into sleep–wake regulation, but translation into clinical practice remains incomplete. This Special Issue addresses this gap by connecting laboratory findings with patient-centred approaches.

Aim and Scope

• Elucidate neurobiological mechanisms of sleep regulation and dysfunction;
• Characterise sleep disorders across basic, translational, and clinical levels;
• Highlight interdisciplinary approaches integrating neuroscience, medicine, and technology;
• Promote innovation in diagnosis, biomarker discovery, and therapeutics.

Cutting-Edge Research

This Special Issue will feature cutting-edge contributions in the neurogenetics of sleep, orexin/hypocretin biology, advanced MRI and EEG biomarkers, AI-based diagnostic tools, neuromodulation strategies, and longitudinal studies linking sleep disorders with neurodegenerative disease progression.

What Kind of Papers Are We Soliciting

• Original research articles (basic, translational, clinical);
• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses;
• Perspectives and commentaries on emerging directions;
• Interdisciplinary studies linking sleep science to technology and medicine.

Dr. Oscar Arias-Carrión
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.