Animal Models of Neurological and Cognitive Disorders with Developmental Onset
Special Topic Issue: Developmental Neuroscience 2012, Vol. 34, No. 2-3

Animal models are vital to biomedical research, and they are almost the only way to test basic hypotheses regarding brain formation and function. In this special issue, we have gathered studies addressing how neurodevelopmental adaptations and maladaptations contribute to a wide variety of complex neurological and psychiatric disorders. The papers focus on linking cellular and circuit-level integrative approaches in animal models, including a large number of contributions containing behavioral techniques. Topics covered encompass both genetic and environmental perturbations of mammalian brain development with relevance to the study of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, learning disabilities, neurodegeneration, and schizophrenia. Original research in the field is balanced by several focused reviews which summarize current knowledge and identify key gaps in our understanding. The publication provides a valuable source of information by bringing together multiple perspectives for neurologists, psychiatrists, pharmacologist and basic researchers alike.