Neurobiological Research on Social Behavior and Cognition in Animals

Dear Colleagues,

Neurobiological research on social behavior and cognition in animals has accelerated in recent decades, giving us an understanding of the relevant mechanisms, adaptive significance, development of neurochemical circuitry, and evolution of behavior and its substrates. Often, both in case studies and experimental trials, we can understand how neurocognitive disorders are dysfunctional, and by contrast with the expected and species-specific behaviors of animals, we understand the form and function of physiology and behavior. These studies provide us with increasingly clear visions of social interactions and communication between animal species, including humans.

In this Special Issue, we hope to receive and compile high-quality articles with observational and experimental methods, literature reviews, theoretical proposals, or hypotheses with a strong empirical basis on topics related to anatomical substrates and physiological mechanisms linked to animal behavior.

More specifically, we hope to receive contributions relating (but not exclusively) to:

1. The brain regions involved in social behavior, decision-making, social cognition, and emotional regulation in animals;
2. Structures of the limbic circuit, especially the amygdala, in emotional processing, such as fear responses, aggression, and social recognition;
3. Hormonal or neurohormonal systems of oxytocin and vasopressin in the regulation of social bonding and affiliative behaviors;
4. Mirror neurons, found in areas such as the premotor cortex, which appear to be involved in understanding and imitating actions, contributing to social learning and empathy;
5. Neural mechanisms underlying social hierarchies and the social stability of animal groups;
6. The role of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin in the formation of social hierarchies, influencing behaviors related to competition, aggression, and social status;
7. Mechanisms related to social learning, imitation, and cultural behaviors;
8. Neuroimaging studies identifying brain regions involved in affective memory, human–animal attachment, learning, and aversion in pets and other animal species;
9. Laterality and adaptive behaviors and individuality, as well as dysfunctional behaviors;
10. The neurobiological mechanisms of chemical, postural, and vocalization communication;
11. The neurophysiology of empathy and prosocial behavior, including ontogenetic and evolutionary aspects;
12. The neural and physiological mechanisms of animal welfare and behavioral responses to environmental enrichment;
13. The effects of toxins and abiotic factors, such as climate change, on the behavior patterns of animal species.

This broad outline of the possibilities for publication in Animals is part of the “universe of neuroscience and behavioral sciences." As a universe, we already have substantial knowledge, but a lot of research is being carried out by several researchers around the world, who will find in Animals an opportunity to see their work read, recognized, and selected with quality criteria that are unique to high-impact scientific journals. Our editorial role as Guest Editors will be to remain careful, selective, and, above all, collaborative, so that the selected manuscripts have their content and presentation formatted with the highest editorial quality.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Vanner Boere
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• cognition
• animal behavior
• comparative psychology
• learning
• brain
• nervous system
• neurotransmitters
• hormones
• neurohormones
• cell signaling
• social behavior
• parental behavior
• sexual behavior
• affiliation