Be Positive About the Negative: The Value of Null Results in Neuropharmacology

Despite rigorous design and solid hypotheses, many studies in neuropharmacology yield negative, inconclusive, or non-significant results. These findings are essential for scientific progress and transparency. Yet, negative results continue to face substantial barriers to publication, contributing to publication bias and an incomplete scientific record.Recently, there has been renewed discussion across the scientific community about the importance of publishing negative results. Experts now recognize that most research yields null or unexpected findings, and that sharing these outcomes is crucial for fair and accurate knowledge-building. In neuropharmacology, this bias not only distorts our understanding of which interventions actually work but can also lead to wasted resources and slower scientific progress.A collection of rigorously conducted negative results can illuminate the true boundaries of current knowledge, help researchers refine hypotheses, and prevent costly duplication of unsuccessful experiments.We invite you to contribute to an openly accessible collection of rigorous negative findings in neuropharmacology. This collection is not about highlighting mistakes or shortcomings, but about constructively advancing the field, refining our understanding, and supporting more effective research, together. Our Goal is to:- Encourage the submission of negative and null findings in neuropharmacology.- Promote awareness of publication bias, and work towards better reproducibility and transparency in our field.- Stimulate honest dialogue on experimental design, data interpretation, and scientific integrity.We welcome manuscripts on topics across the full range of neuropharmacology, with particular interest in the following areas:- Pharmacological Modulation of Neurobiological Mechanisms- Molecular, cellular, and systems-level studies of pharmacological interventions in psychiatric and neurological disorders (e.g., depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)- Drug effects on epigenetic regulation, neuroplasticity, and neurogenesis- Substance Use Disorders and Addiction- Negative or null findings from studies on the pharmacological treatment of substance use and behavioral addictions- Research into failed or non-significant effects of compounds targeting reward pathways, relapse prevention, or withdrawal management- Clinical trials and preclinical models focused on addiction biology- Neuronal, Glial, and Neuroimmune Signaling- Investigations of drug effects on neuronal and glial communication- Neuroimmune modulation by pharmacological agents, especially studies with non-significant or contradictory findings- Methodological studies revealing limitations in existing experimental models- Behavioural and Cognitive Outcomes of Pharmacological Studies- Preclinical and clinical assessments of how neuropharmacological agents influence behavior and cognition (e.g., memory, learning, emotion regulation, executive function)- Negative or non-significant findings linking molecular/cellular drug effects to behavioral outcomes- Studies reporting unsuccessful translation of animal model results to human cognition/behaviorTranslational Neuroscience, Biomarkers, and Clinical Endpoints- Null or negative results in biomarker discovery and validation for neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions- Failed or inconclusive translation from preclinical studies to clinical applicationImaging, genetic, or other advanced methods, particularly studies highlighting technological or theoretical limitations Topic editors: Adrian Preda, Hector J Caruncho, Eero Vasar Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75418/be-positive-about-the-negative-the-value-of-null-results-in-neuropharmacology