Multiscale neural mechanisms of sensory processing and perception

Everyday environments are replete with sensory information that the brain is tasked with processing, and utilizing for goal-directed behavior. Despite decades of research, a significant "explanatory gap" persists between our understanding of microscale cellular processes and macroscale behavioral outcomes. Current neurobiological approaches often operate in isolation, focusing either on the properties of individual neurons or the dynamics of large-scale networks. However, to understand the relationships between neural encoding and perception, it is essential to characterize the multiscale interactions occurring within and across cells, circuits, and large-scale networks. The advent of high-resolution recording techniques and advanced computational modeling now provides an unprecedented opportunity to bridge these domains. By synthesizing data from cellular, circuit, and systems levels, we can begin to uncover the principles that govern how sensory signals are transformed into percepts across different species and analytical levels.The primary objective of this Research Topic is to different scales of analysis in sensory neuroscience research. While we have mapped many regions involved in processing across sensory modalities, the mechanistic links between cell/circuit-specific activity, and the resulting neural signatures recorded non-invasively in humans remain elusive. This collection seeks to foster a holistic understanding of sensory perception by prioritizing research that explicitly connects these scales of analysis. We aim to encourage the development of biophysically detailed computational models that are not only theoretically sound but also validated against empirical neural data. Furthermore, a major goal is to enhance translational neurobiology by drawing clear parallels between animal-based microscale recordings and human macroscale neurophysiology. By emphasizing mechanistic rigor, this Research Topic aims to advance cell and circuit-based theories of sensory perception grounded in empirical constraints from multiple species.We invite papers that investigate the neural mechanisms of sensory perception through a multiscale lens. Contributions should ideally bridge different domains of neurobiology, from cellular processes to circuit function and behavior. We also place interest on studies utilizing nonhuman data that emphasize translational relevance to human neuroscience.Specific themes we encourage contributors to address include:- Cortico-subcortical circuits and laminar organization involved in sensory processing.- Novel methodologies and experimental designs that bridge cell, circuit, and network scales.- Computational approaches that integrate cellular-level data into network-level models (e.g., cell-circuit models that generate predicted EEG signals).- Concurrent microscale and macroscale measurements providing insight into the cellular origins of noninvasively recorded neural signals.- Cross-species comparative studies and translations between animal neurophysiology and human neuroimaging/neurophysiology Topic editors: Sam Neymotin, Chase Mackey, Ambra Ferrari Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/87122/multiscale-neural-mechanisms-of-sensory-processing-and-perception