Connectionists: Call for Papers - Special issue on "Neural models of brain disorders"

[T.Heida@ewi.utwente.nl]

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CALL  FOR  PAPERS
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Special Issue of the Neural Networks Journal (Elsevier)
on "Neural models of brain disorders"
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Guest Editors
Vassilis Cutsuridis, Boston University, USA
(vcut at bu.edu)
Ciska Heida, University of Twente, The Netherlands
(t.heida at utwente.nl)
Wlodek Duch, Nicolaos Copernicus University, Poland
(wduch at is.umk.pl)
Kenji Doya, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
(doya at oist.jp)


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Scope
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Recent decades have witnessed dramatic accumulation of knowledge about the
genetic, molecular, pharmacological, neurophysiological, anatomical, imaging
and psychological characteristics of brain disorders. Despite these
advances, however, experimental brain science has offered very little
insight into the theoretical framework for integrating neurobiological and
psychological data.

Surgical treatment of neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease,
dystonia and epilepsy were until recently mainly based on applying lesions
at specific parts of the brain. While these procedures nowadays have been
replaced by more reversible neurostimulation methods, most therapies for
brain disorders are still based on trial-and-error and effective mechanisms
remain unknown.

Mathematical and neurocomputational models play an instrumental role in
bridging the gap between the brain and behavior, and may help to unravel the
underlying mechanisms of therapy and to simulate and test new therapeutic
strategies.

The goal of the special issue is to provide a snapshot and a resume of the
current state-of-the-art of the ongoing research avenues concerning the
neural basis of brain disorders such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease,
dementia, psychosis, affective disorders, anxiety, autism, dyslexia,
Altzheimer's disease, epilepsy, etc. The emphasis will be on computational
models that are tightly grounded on experimental data.


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Specific Aims
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The special issue specifically aims at providing insights in neuronal
network processes and interactions underlying normal and abnormal behavior
based on computational models. These models may describe network behavior at
a microscopic (cellular) or macroscopic (system) level. The usefulness of
the models in understanding neural organization and behavior will be
emphasized. The neuroanatomical and neurophysiological principles that are
included in the models are clearly stated including the simplifications that
are adopted. Experimental data is presented that form the basis for the
acceptance of the model and its reductions both in describing normal and
abnormal behaviour.

Therapeutic methods based on medication as well as targeted electrical or
magnetic stimulation of the brain may be explored using these models.
Existing therapeutic methods may be challenged while the outcome of novel
(neurostimulation) methods may be predicted.


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Important dates
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Submission deadline: September 1st, 2010

Review deadline: December 1, 2010

Revised submission deadline: February 1, 2011

Final decision: March 1, 2011

Appearance in journal: ~April, 2011


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Submission
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Electronic submission instructions for the Neural Networks journal can be
found under http://ees.elsevier.com/neunet/

Please indicate in your cover letter that your article is for the special
issue "Neural Models of Brain Disorders".