Current topics in behavioral neurosciences最新文献

{"title":"The Importance of Translational Research for Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders.","authors":"Jill L Silverman, Olivia Y Haouchine, Debdyuti Roy, Emma R Monsen","doi":"10.1007/7854_2026_617","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2026_617","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Translational research is the process of transforming fundamental biological discoveries into safe and efficacious interventions for patients. This specialized field is of particular importance for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), a broad class of behaviorally defined conditions including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), and related disorders. NDDs present unique translational challenges including (i) a lack of biological diagnostic markers; (ii) the fact that they are diagnosed exclusively by behavioral criteria; (iii) their involvement of dysfunction in complex brain circuitry; and (iv) that there is no single unifying biological mechanism. This chapter reviews the current landscape of translational neuroscience for NDDs, examining the strengths and limitations of preclinical model systems, including rodent models humanized mice, human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) 3D spheroids and brain organoids. This work emphasizes that research emanating from the varying preclinical experimental systems above should be leveraged and their complementary strengths integrated, coordinated, and considered collaboratively, to strengthen current knowledge, identify the remaining research gaps, and prioritize future research. We also emphasize the importance of rigorous, reproducible methodology and conservative interpretation of behavioral and functional outcomes. Discussion is presented on key translational bridges or connections that are urgently required to advance the field: bridging non-human model systems to humanized models, identifying and validating translational biomarkers, bridging in vitro and in vivo findings, and developing corroborative alternatives to animal models. It is our stance that integrating multiple complementary model systems, limiting erroneous behavioral inferences, relying on evolutionarily conserved circuits, and prioritizing robust and reproducible outcome measures will reduce failures in the translational pipeline and accelerate the development of meaningful therapies for individuals with NDDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149206687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modifiers of Genetics in ASD Etiology.","authors":"Kelly H Chau, Janine M LaSalle","doi":"10.1007/7854_2026_618","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2026_618","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with a multifactorial genetic architecture, with risk arising from the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Although there is a strong heritable component, identified genetic variants explain only a proportion of its susceptibility. Mutations in individual genes or copy number variants (CNVs) each account for less than 1% of cases, while collectively, rare de novo mutations and CNVs are estimated to contribute to approximately 20% of ASD cases. This incomplete explanation of ASD risk through identified genetic variants suggests that additional mechanisms, including gene by environment (G×E) interactions, may contribute to ASD risk.Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, provide an intermediate molecular phenotype through which genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures converge to influence neurodevelopment. Furthermore, consideration of sex by environment (S×E) interactions may help elucidate sex-related differences in ASD prevalence and molecular phenotypes. This chapter synthesizes current evidence for epigenetic mechanisms underlying ASD, with a focus on how genetic susceptibility, prenatal environmental exposures, and biological sex may interact to shape epigenomic patterns relevant to neurodevelopment and ASD risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149206634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Leveraging Preclinical Models to Understand Human Neurobiology and Behavior.","authors":"Joshua T Dearborn, Din Selmanovic, Sneha M Chaturvedi, Simona Sarafinovska, Susan E Maloney","doi":"10.1007/7854_2026_619","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2026_619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Rodent models have become indispensable tools for investigating the neurobiological mechanisms underlying human behavior and disease. Despite the substantial phenotypic differences between rodents and humans, shared evolutionary history, conserved genomic architecture, and analogous neural circuitry allow preclinical findings to meaningfully inform our understanding of human conditions. This chapter reviews the behavioral paradigms most commonly used to evaluate five core domains in rodent models: motor function, stress and anxiety-like behavior, repetitive and restrictive behaviors, social behavior, and learning and memory. For each domain, we describe established assays, discuss the underlying innate behaviors they leverage, and highlight examples in which preclinical data have advanced mechanistic understanding or therapeutic development for human neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. We emphasize that behavioral findings must be interpreted with careful precision, as rodent behaviors are not direct equivalents of humans' intentional, complex behaviors or human emotional states but rather analogous outputs of neural circuits that can be operationally quantified. Throughout this chapter, we highlight critical considerations for rigor and reproducibility, an ongoing issue in the preclinical rodent behavioral space, such as the influence of environment; the appropriate selection of control groups; the importance of litter effects and background strain; and sex as a biological variable. Taken together, this chapter provides both a practical guide to preclinical behavioral neuroscience and a framework for maximizing the translational value of animal model research.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149206717","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Translational Neuroscience of Autism Spectrum Disorder : Genetics: Contribution Not Correlation.","authors":"Marla Mendes, Xiaopu Zhou, Jacob Vorstman, Stephen W Scherer","doi":"10.1007/7854_2026_616","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/7854_2026_616","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ever since the observation of a robust heriditary component of autism, the scientific community has invested efforts and resources toward the identification of genetic variation associated with this condition. The current chapter provides an overview of of these efforts in a historical context, outlining how increasingly precise methods to query the genome along with unprecedented levels of international collaboration are starting to eludicate the complex genetic architecture of autism.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149206690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epistemic Risk Reduction in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.","authors":"Chiara Caporuscio, Sascha Benjamin Fink","doi":"10.1007/7854_2024_531","DOIUrl":"10.1007/7854_2024_531","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Belief change is crucial to therapeutic benefit in psychedelic-assisted therapy as well as in more traditional forms of therapy. However, the use of psychedelics comes with a few unique challenges that require extra caution. First, drastic belief changes may occur faster than in regular therapy. Facing radical and transformative insights all at once rather than through a gradual process of discovery and integration can lead patients to a volatile, confusing or disorienting epistemic state. Additionally, we know psychedelic substances generate hallucinatory experiences that come with a high degree of confidence and noetic certainty despite not necessarily being connected with reality. On the other hand, telling a patient which ones of her beliefs are true and which ones are not seems beyond the competence of a psychotherapist, if not an abuse of their authority and power. This is even more dangerous when psychedelics are involved, because power imbalance between patient and therapist is exacerbated by the therapist's role as a guiding figure throughout an intense altered state of consciousness. Because of this suggestible state, the therapist's beliefs might have a disproportionate influence, and even well-intentioned nudging might significantly stray the patient's beliefs.How can a therapist help a patient navigate their epistemic uncertainty around psychedelic insights while preserving the patient's autonomy? This chapter will attempt to answer this question through a philosophical and epistemological lens. We will review different strategies to mitigate epistemic risks in psychedelic-assisted therapy and argue that such risks can be significantly reduced by adapting these strategies dynamically to the individual patient's needs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"417-430"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142562414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Set and Setting for Psychedelic Harm Reduction.","authors":"Ido Hartogsohn","doi":"10.1007/7854_2024_509","DOIUrl":"10.1007/7854_2024_509","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Set and setting is a fundamental concept in the field of psychedelic studies, denoting the crucial importance of context to determining the character and quality of experiences with psychedelics. This paper suggests a framework for thinking of set and setting and its relevance for psychedelic harm reduction. It discusses how \"set,\" the diverse factors related to an individual's mindset, and \"setting,\" the diverse environmental dimensions, influence the psychedelic experience and its outcomes, and the relevance to the field of harm reduction. It additionally provides an overview of four basic modalities of set and setting, the therapeutic, the clinical trial, the ritualistic, and the recreational, examining the differences in set and setting between each and the other according to several key parameters, the implications of such differences, and the ways in which harm reduction strategies informed by the principles of set and setting can be integrated to increase safety and benefits in each case. The integration of set and setting principles into public health policies, alongside education on their significance, could further the efficacy of harm reduction programs in the field of psychedelics.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"299-312"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141855129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pharmacological Properties of Psychedelics with a Special Focus on Potential Harms.","authors":"Friederike Holze, Matthias E Liechti, Felix Müller","doi":"10.1007/7854_2024_510","DOIUrl":"10.1007/7854_2024_510","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Psychedelics are a group of substances within the heterogeneous class of hallucinogenic drugs. Via binding to the serotonin (5-HT) 2A receptor, psychedelics exert profound alterations in various mental domains, including sensation, cognition, emotions, and self-perception. Psychedelics comprise phenethylamines (e.g., mescaline), tryptamines (e.g., psilocybin), and ergolines (e.g., LSD). These drugs have been used recreationally for decades but have also regained attention as potential treatments for various psychiatric as well as neurological illnesses. While psychedelics are generally considered to be relatively safe from a physiological standpoint, especially when compared to other recreational drugs, they are not without risks. The main safety concerns are lasting psychological adverse reactions such as persisting anxiety, dissociation, or flashbacks.This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the pharmacology of classic psychedelics, including their origins, psychological and autonomic effects, interactions, and potential risks and side effects. Furthermore, the origin, dosing, and consumption methods are discussed. It differentiates psychedelics from other psychoactive drugs, such as MDMA and ketamine, and elaborates on their distinct receptor profiles. Overall, this chapter provides an overview of the pharmacological underpinnings necessary for understanding the harms caused by psychedelic drugs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"25-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141855128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Managing Psychological Challenges in the Subacute (\"Afterglow\") Window of Psychedelic Drug Effects.","authors":"Ricarda Evens, Abdo Uyar, Tomislav Majić","doi":"10.1007/7854_2025_612","DOIUrl":"10.1007/7854_2025_612","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The subacute period following the use of classic psychedelics is often marked by an \"afterglow\" - a state characterized by elevated mood; enhanced psychological well-being; increased emotional openness toward self, others, and nature; and sometimes a heightened sense of clarity and existential meaning. From a neurobiological perspective, subacute psychedelic states have been associated with changes in brain network connectivity, amygdala reactivity, and neuroplasticity.However, individual responses to psychedelics vary considerably, and not all users experience positive aftereffects. Some struggle to make sense of their psychedelic experiences or to integrate them into daily life. Others report psychological instability, including mood swings, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, feelings of alienation, depersonalization, derealization, persisting perceptual changes, flashbacks, prolonged psychosis, mania, or suicidal ideation.Many of these issues can be mitigated through interventions commonly referred to as \"psychedelic integration,\" often practiced individually or provided by peers within the psychedelic community or through other forms of social support. In cases of severe or persistent symptoms, however, professional mental health care may be required. Key components in managing subacute complications include establishing safety, mobilizing internal and external resources, supporting the psychological processing of the experience, addressing maladaptive interpretations, monitoring symptom progression, and, when indicated, pharmacotherapy. Persistent complications may furthermore warrant established disorder-specific treatment to prevent further chronification.This chapter outlines and discusses strategies for managing clinically significant subacute complications, with the aim of advancing a nuanced harm-reduction framework relevant to research, clinical, and non-clinical contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"355-373"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145793410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role and Ethics of Touch and Non-touch in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy.","authors":"Helena D Aicher, Anke Röskamp, Marianne Moser, Manuela Brand","doi":"10.1007/7854_2025_608","DOIUrl":"10.1007/7854_2025_608","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Touch has long been an essential element in human communication and healing. In the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT), the role of touch (and by extension, non-touch) presents complex ethical and practical challenges, particularly due to the heightened vulnerability of individuals in altered states of consciousness. Recent public discourse, including reports of boundary violations and abuse, has sharpened the political and ethical discussion around physical contact in PAT settings.This chapter approaches the topic from a harm reduction perspective, acknowledging the risks of misuse and the need for clear boundaries, transparency, informed consent, and cultural sensitivity. At the same time, we argue that touch can offer grounding, emotional support, and therapeutic value when used with care and responsibly. We explore both touch and non-touch interventions in PAT, examining their historical roots, therapeutic potentials, and outlining the ethical frameworks necessary to navigate this complex and sensitive terrain. Our aim is to contribute to an informed and nuanced dialogue on the topic, which supports safe, ethical, and effective therapeutic practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"531-566"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145573296","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Flashbacks, Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), and Reactivations Following the Use of Classic Psychedelics: Classification and Therapeutic Management.","authors":"Marija Franka Žuljević, Tomislav Majić","doi":"10.1007/7854_2025_610","DOIUrl":"10.1007/7854_2025_610","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Among the complications associated with the use of classic psychedelics, flashbacks, hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) and reactivations are most specifically linked to their use. These three phenomena share the occurrence of perceptual disturbances resembling those experienced under the acute effects of psychedelics, but HPPD differs from flashbacks and reactivations due to its persistent nature.Existing evidence suggests that HPPD has a generally low relative prevalence, though in some cases, it may reach considerable clinical relevance. In contrast, flashbacks and reactivations may be more common but are less frequently documented, as they typically do not result in significant distress or treatment-seeking behavior.Many patients presenting with post-psychedelic complications assume they have HPPD; however, only a minority actually meet diagnostic criteria, with others suffering from different psychedelic-related complications. This complicates epidemiological estimates of HPPD and underscores the importance of comprehensive differential diagnostic assessment. Subsuming non-pathological phenomena like flashbacks to HPPD inappropriately inflates prevalence estimates.In very rare cases, HPPD may develop into a chronic condition requiring long-term pharmacological treatment, while in most cases, HPPD spontaneously subsides within one year or diminishes to a tolerable level. It is therefore essential to avoid emphasizing negative prognoses, as they may influence treatment outcomes.This chapter provides an overview of the phenomenology, epidemiology, diagnostic classification, and differential diagnoses of flashbacks, HPPD, and reactivations. As evidence-based treatment options are not yet available, current knowledge is derived from case reports and clinical experience.</p>","PeriodicalId":11257,"journal":{"name":"Current topics in behavioral neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"183-216"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145676767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}