The Brain in Motion: Rhythms, States, and the Timecourse of Cognition theme

Cognition is inherently dynamic, yet traditional cognitive neuroscience has often conceptualized mental operations as discrete, static events. Recent advances in electrophysiology, high-temporal-resolution neuroimaging, and computational modeling demonstrate that brain function relies on continuous transitions across rhythmic neural oscillations and fluctuating brain states. From millisecond cross-frequency couplings to slower shifts in arousal and vigilance, the temporal structure of neural activity orchestrates perception, attention, decision-making, and memory. Understanding how oscillatory rhythms coordinate distributed cortical networks over time is essential for deciphering the fundamental mechanisms governing healthy human cognition and its breakdown in neurological and psychiatric conditions.Despite rapid progress in neuroimaging, a critical challenge remains: bridging distinct temporal scales—from fast oscillatory bursts to sustained state transitions—and directly linking these temporal dynamics to moment-to-moment behavior. This Research Topic aims to address this divide by highlighting empirical, methodological, and theoretical contributions that capture the brain in motion. By shifting focus from static localization to dynamic network reconfigurations, this collection seeks to uncover how coordinated neural rhythms govern adaptive cognitive function. We aim to synthesize work using high-resolution time-series methods, dynamic functional connectivity, and neuromodulation to establish more mechanistic models of human brain dynamics.We welcome Original Research, Brief Research Reports, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Methods submissions investigating temporal dynamics and brain states in human cognition. Studies utilizing EEG, MEG, intracranial recordings, dynamic fMRI, computational modeling, or non-invasive neuromodulation are particularly encouraged.Key themes include, but are not limited to:• Oscillatory dynamics underlying attention, perception, memory, and cognitive control• Cross-frequency coupling and large-scale phase synchronization in cognitive processing• Spontaneous and task-induced brain state transitions (e.g., vigilance, mind-wandering, fatigue)•Microstate analysis, dynamic functional connectivity, and criticality in neural systems• Closed-loop and phase-targeted neuromodulation (e.g., tACS, rhythmic TMS)• Novel computational, dynamical systems, and machine-learning frameworks for temporal neuroimaging data Topic editors: Valentina Bruno, Sanjay Kumar, Paz Suárez-Coalla, Maria Concetta Pellicciari, Elisa Tatti Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85948/the-brain-in-motion-rhythms-states-and-the-timecourse-of-cognition-theme