Cognitive and Imaging Mechanisms in Neurological Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

Understanding the complex interplay between cognitive function, brain structure, and imaging biomarkers is pivotal to advancing diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment in neurological disorders. This Special Issue, titled “Cognitive and Imaging Mechanisms in Neurological Disorders”, brings together cutting-edge research exploring both cognition and its neural substrates as well as the imaging characteristics that inform differential diagnosis, disease monitoring, treatment planning, and long-term outcomes in neurological disorders. Covering a wide range of conditions—including neurodegenerative, vascular, autoimmune, epileptic, traumatic, and other rare neurological disorders—this issue emphasizes the translational potential of neuropsychological evaluation and neuroimaging in clinical neurology and cognitive neuroscience.

While particular interest lies in studies utilizing traditional and advanced neuropsychological assessments (including virtual reality-based tools), as well as imaging techniques such as structural and functional MRI, DTI, PET, MEG, and multimodal approaches integrated with cognitive, clinical, and computational data, contributions employing other relevant methodologies are also welcome.

Key themes include the following:

• Cognitive profiles and imaging markers in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal degeneration, motor neuron disease, epilepsy, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and other rare neurological conditions.
• Neuroimaging signatures for early and differential diagnosis across overlapping syndromes.
• Structural and functional correlates of cognitive impairment and disease progression.
• Imaging predictors of therapeutic response and tools for treatment planning.
• Machine learning and AI applications in identifying diagnostic and prognostic imaging biomarkers.
• Integration of cognitive, behavioral, and imaging data for personalized neurology and neurorehabilitation.
• Longitudinal imaging studies capturing disease trajectories and cognitive decline/recovery.

We welcome original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and narrative reviews that address these topics through clinical, experimental, or methodological approaches. This Special Issue seeks to bring together clinicians, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, and neuroscientists working at the intersection of neuropsychology, cognitive neuroscience, clinical neuroimaging, and neurology. By showcasing interdisciplinary research, we aim to foster a more comprehensive understanding of how the study of brain–behavior relationships can translate into better patient care and more precise neurological practice.

Dr. Foteini Christidi
Dr. Anna Tsiakiri
Dr. Efstratios Karavasilis
Guest Editors

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