Preface to the Special Issue “Touchscreen Testing to Investigate the Neurochemistry of Cognition”

Touchscreen-based methodologies have enabled significant advancements in cognitive neuroscience by providing standardized, translationally relevant assessments of advanced cognitive functions in rodent models. This special issue highlights the potential of these systems to bridge animal and human research, providing insights into the neurochemical and biological mechanisms underlying cognition. The included studies explore diverse applications, from understanding the cognitive impacts of chronic stress and maternal immune activation to evaluating the effectiveness of novel therapeutics and assessing cross-species cognitive testing approaches that enhance translational relevance. By combining touchscreen technologies with cutting-edge approaches like electrophysiology and open science databases, these contributions underscore the critical role of automated systems in advancing translational research. Together, they lay the foundation for novel therapeutic strategies to address cognitive deficits in brain disorders.