The aim of the “Developmental Neuroscience” Section of Brain Sciences (ISSN: 2076-3425) is to publish articles that identify the mechanisms of both normal neurodevelopmental processes and those that cause aberrant development leading to neurological disorders, from gestation through to adolescence, which sets the foundation of adult configurations. The scope of this Section includes a broad multidisciplinary approach to understanding the clinical and basic aspects of neurodevelopment. As such, behavioral, cognitive, molecular, genetic, epigenetic and imaging studies are particularly welcome.

As all of the articles published in our journal are of an open access format, you have free and unlimited access to the full text. We welcome you to read our most highly cited papers published in 2021 and 2022, which are listed below:

1. “Action Video Games Enhance Attentional Control and Phonological Decoding in Children with Developmental Dyslexia”
by Sara Bertoni, Sandro Franceschini, Giovanna Puccio, Martina Mancarella, Simone Gori and Andrea Facoetti
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(2), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11020171
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/2/171

2. “Behavior Testing in Rodents: Highlighting Potential Confounds Affecting Variability and Reproducibility”
by Rachel Michelle Saré, Abigail Lemons and Carolyn Beebe Smith
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040522
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/4/522

3. “Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on the Emotional and Behavioral Profiles of Preschool Italian Children with and without Familial Risk for Neurodevelopmental Disorders”
by Chiara Cantiani, Chiara Dondena, Elena Capelli, Elena M. Riboldi, Massimo Molteni and Valentina Riva
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(4), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11040477
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/4/477

4. “Evolution of the Autism Literature and the Influence of Parents: A Scientific Mapping in Web of Science”
by Noemí Carmona-Serrano, Antonio-José Moreno-Guerrero, José-Antonio Marín-Marín and Jesús López-Belmonte
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11010074
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/1/74

5. “Exome Sequencing in 200 Intellectual Disability/Autistic Patients: New Candidates and Atypical Presentations”
by Floriana Valentino, Lucia Pia Bruno, Gabriella Doddato, Annarita Giliberti, Rossella Tita, Sara Resciniti, Chiara Fallerini, Mirella Bruttini, Caterina Lo Rizzo, Maria Antonietta Mencarelli et al.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 936; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070936
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/936

6. “Outcome of Community-Based Early Intervention and Rehabilitation for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Rural Bangladesh: A Quasi-Experimental Study”
by Tasneem Karim, Mohammad Muhit, Israt Jahan, Claire Galea, Catherine Morgan, Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, Nadia Badawi and Gulam Khandaker
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1189; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091189
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1189

7. “Sleep Abnormalities in the Synaptopathies—SYNGAP1-Related Intellectual Disability and Phelan–McDermid Syndrome”
by Constance Smith-Hicks, Damien Wright, Aisling Kenny, Robert C. Stowe, Maria McCormack, Andrew C. Stanfield and J. Lloyd Holder, Jr.
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(9), 1229; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11091229
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1229

8. “The Impact of X-Chromosome Inactivation on Phenotypic Expression of X-Linked Neurodevelopmental Disorders”
by Boudewien A Brand, Alyssa E Blesson and Constance L. Smith-Hicks
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070904
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/904

9. “Parenting Stress and Social Style in Mothers and Fathers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Cross-Cultural Investigation in Italy and Japan”
by Michele Giannotti, Sophia Marlene Bonatti, Sanae Tanaka, Haruyuki Kojima and Simona de Falco
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(11), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11111419
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/11/1419

10. “Predictors of Rehabilitation Service Utilisation among Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC): Findings from the Global LMIC CP Register”
by Mahmudul Hassan Al Imam, Israt Jahan, Mohammad Muhit, Denny Hardianto, Francis Laryea, Amir Banjara Chhetri, Hayley Smithers-Sheedy, Sarah McIntyre, Nadia Badawi and Gulam Khandaker
Brain Sci. 2021, 11(7), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070848
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/7/848

11. “The Burden of Respiratory Alterations during Sleep on Comorbidities in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)”
by Pasquale Tondo, Francesco Fanfulla, Giulia Scioscia, Roberto Sabato, Michela Salvemini, Cosimo C. De Pace, Maria Pia Foschino Barbaro and Donato Lacedonia
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(10), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12101359
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/10/1359

12. “Sensory Processing Phenotypes in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome and SYNGAP1-Related Intellectual Disability”
by Ariel M. Lyons-Warren, Maria C. McCormack and Jimmy L. Holder, Jr.
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(2), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12020137
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/2/137

13. “Musical Performance in Adolescents with ADHD, ADD and Dyslexia—Behavioral and Neurophysiological Aspects”
by Christine Groß, Bettina L. Serrallach, Eva Möhler, Jachin E. Pousson, Peter Schneider, Markus Christiner and Valdis Bernhofs
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(2), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12020127
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/2/127

14. “Testing the Impact of Depressive and Anxiety Features on the Association between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Academic Performance among University Students: A Mediation Analysis”
by Ilaria Riboldi, Cristina Crocamo, Tommaso Callovini, Chiara Alessandra Capogrosso, Susanna Piacenti, Angela Calabrese, Susanna Lucini Paioni, Federico Moretti, Francesco Bartoli and Giuseppe Carrà
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(9), 1155; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12091155
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/9/1155

15. “The Impact of Health and Social Services on the Quality of Life in Families of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Focus Group Study”
by Cinzia Correale, Marta Borgi, Francesca Cirulli, Francesca Cirulli, Fiorenzo Laghi, Barbara Trimarco, Maurizio Ferraro and Aldina Venerosi
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(2), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12020177
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/2/177

16. “Eye Tracking Research on the Influence of Spatial Frequency and Inversion Effect on Facial Expression Processing in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder”
by Kun Zhang, Yishuang Yuan, Yishuang Yuan, Jingying Chen, Guangshuai Wang, Qian Chen and Meijuan Luo
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(2), 283; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12020283
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/2/283

17. “Pragmatic Profiles of Adults with Fragile X Syndrome and Williams Syndrome”
by Eliseo Diez-Itza, Aitana Viejo and Maite Fernández-Urquiza
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(3), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12030385
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/3/385

18. “Assessing the Utility of Neonatal Screening Assessments in Early Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy in Preterm Infants”
by Rebecca Connors, Vathana Sackett, Catherine Machipisa, Kenneth Tan, Pramod Pharande, Lindsay Zhou and Atul Malhotra
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(7), 847; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12070847
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/7/847

19. “Tolerance to Stimulant Medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Literature Review and Case Report”
by Kenneth Handelman and Fernando Sumiya
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(8), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12080959
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/8/959

20. “Maternal Allergic Asthma Induces Prenatal Neuroinflammation”
by Juan M. Tamayo, Destanie Rose, Jamie S. Church, Jared J. Schwartzer and Paul Ashwood
Brain Sci. 2022, 12(8), 1041; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12081041
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/12/8/1041