Neuromodulatory Signaling in Brain Disorders: State-of-the-Art Insights

Dear Colleagues,

Neuromodulatory signaling plays a critical role in regulating neural circuit dynamics, synaptic plasticity, and behavioral outcomes. Recent studies have demonstrated that disruptions in neuromodulatory signaling mechanisms are closely associated with a wide range of brain disorders, including substance addiction, affective disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and neuroinflammatory conditions. These pathologies are commonly associated with neurotransmitter dysfunction, altered receptor signaling, and impaired neural network regulation. Therefore, a deeper understanding of neuromodulatory processes at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels is critical for uncovering disease mechanisms and advancing the development of targeted therapeutic strategies.

This Special Issue invites high-quality contributions that advance our understanding of the neuromodulatory signaling underlying neurological disorders. Topics of interest include intracellular and extracellular signaling cascades, receptor-mediated pathways, second-messenger systems, mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, and the interactions between neuromodulatory signals, immune responses, and neuroinflammation. Studies examining how disruptions in neuromodulatory balance contribute to the development of substance use disorders and the progression of neurodegenerative or neuroinflammatory conditions, including, but not limited to, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and multiple system atrophy, are relevant to this issue.
This Special Issue focuses on mechanistic, basic, and translational research. It seeks to integrate advances in molecular and cellular neuroscience to enhance our understanding of neuromodulatory signaling and to facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.

Prof. Dr. Kohji Fukunaga
Dr. Wenbin Jia
Guest Editors

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