Recent Molecular Basis of Neurocognitive Mechanism
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2025 | Viewed by 854
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Molecular biology and neuroscience have been significantly advanced by the application of high-throughput omics sequencing and mass spectrometry technologies, such as proteomics, transcriptomics, genomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, and epigenomics. These interdisciplinary research efforts have led to the development of innovative methodologies, comprehensive multi-modal datasets, and valuable genotypic and phenotypic markers. They have also provided deeper insights into treatments, particularly concerning human brain function and cognitive dynamics. A notable example is the recently developed NeuroPro searchable database by Askenazi et al. (2023), which has identified 848 proteins consistently altered in neurodegeneration. This database can distinguish changes in specific proteins associated with synapse, vesicle, and lysosomal pathways in early-stage cognitive decline, as opposed to widespread maladaptive changes in mitochondrial-associated proteins observed in late-stage Alzheimer’s Disease. Complementary to this, data from Soldan et al. (2023) indicate that baseline levels of the synaptic protein NPTX2 in cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can predict the onset of mild cognitive impairment. Another significant contribution comes from Darst et al. (2021), who presented a large longitudinal metabolomic dataset showing that specific plasma metabolites, such as the amino acid cysteine S-sulfate and the fatty acid erucate, are associated with age-related decline in executive functioning. These findings not only advance our understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying neurocognition, such as executive function, inhibitory control, language processing, learning, perception, and memory, but also highlight the translational potential for neurocognitive disorders. Identifying precursor markers of cognitive decline can inform neuroplastic interventions and precision neurorehabilitation. The evolving frontier in this field includes determining whether the most effective treatment strategies should target specific genotypes (e.g., gene therapy), underlying molecular pathways and dynamics (e.g., RNA splicing), or relevant neurocognitive functions and outcomes (e.g., neuro-training). This Special Issue invites original studies, reviews, and hypothesis/conceptual pieces that explore recent advances in human cognitive (dys)function from various neuro-molecular perspectives across clinical and/or adaptive contexts.
Dr. Poppy Schoenberg
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.
Keywords
- cognitive functioning
- epigenomics
- high-throughput omics
- metabolomics
- molecular pathways
- multi-modal datasets
- neurocognition
- neurodegeneration
- neurorehabilitation
- proteomics
- transcriptomics
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
