Dear Colleagues,

Nearly 30 years have passed since significant progress was made in our understanding of the intricate interplay between alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptors and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in maintaining a delicate balance of intracellular calcium levels, which are crucial for proper memory function. However, the fine tuning of memory function extends beyond the interaction of these receptors, and comprises the dynamic involvement of various neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, and endorphins, which influence not only memory but also a variety of behavioral domains, such as emotional valence (positive and negative), cognitive processes, social interactions, arousal/regulatory systems, and sensorimotor systems. Furthermore, these neurotransmitters not only play essential roles in intracellular calcium levels, but also in modulating neuronal activity, synaptic transmission, and plasticity, all of which have an impact on a range of behaviors. Alterations in these neurotransmitter systems are commonly observed in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, as well as systemic disorders, leading to cognitive impairment, emotional disturbances, and altered social interactions. Understanding the complex interactions between neurotransmitters and their effects on behavior is crucial for unraveling the pathophysiology of various disorders and developing effective therapeutic strategies. Memantine, for instance, is a psychopharmacon that restores the equilibrium between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission by targeting both the NMDA and cholinergic nervous systems, thereby enhancing cognitive function and alleviating neurological disorder symptoms. Moreover, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) therapies, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have the potential to modulate neurotransmission by targeting brain circuits selectively and influencing neuronal activity.

This Special Issue highlights state-of-the-art research on how neurotransmission interacts to cause neuropsychiatric symptoms and illuminates potential new therapeutic targets for illnesses including systemic diseases, neurologic diseases, and psychiatric disorders. We invite authors to contribute original research and comprehensive review articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following:

• Etiology, pathogenesis, and progression mechanisms;
• Early diagnosis, including biomarker, bio-imaging, biosensors, and neuroimaging;
• Methodology;
• Prophylactic, disease-modifying, and therapeutic strategies;
• Novel drug discovery and development, naturally driven biomedicines, natural bioactive molecules, and vaccines;
• Novel targets in systemic diseases: cardiovascular, vascular, hematology, oncology, neurology, orthopedics, dermatology, ophthalmology, and other peripheral systems;
• Predictors of clinical treatment responses;
• Preclinical in vitro models and animal models;
• Bench-to-bedside and bedside-to-bench translational research;
• Computational neuroscience and computational psychiatry;
• NIBS, TMS, and tDCS.

Dr. Masaru Tanaka
Dr. Simone Battaglia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Biomedicines 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 2600 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.

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• cognitive dysfunction
• multiple sclerosis
• stroke
• migraine
• chronic pain
• depressive disorder
• bipolar disorder
• post-traumatic stress disorder
• anxiety disorder
• schizophrenia
• somatic symptom disorder
• autism spectrum disorder
• hyperactive attention deficit disorder
• learning disabilities
• brain injuries
• comorbidity
• brain plasticity
• transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)