The New Neurobiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders: From Neuroinflammation to Neurochemical Modulation
Guest Editors
Prof. Marco Carotenuto E-Mail
Full Professor of Child Neuropsychiatry, Director of the Child Neuropsychiatry Unit at the University of Campania
Research Keywords: Neurodevelopmental disorders, pediatric sleep medicine, neuroinflammation and immune-brain interactions, neurophysiology and electrophysiology, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, biomarkers and precision medicine in child neuropsychiatry, translational neurobiology of autism, ADHD, and rare neurogenetic conditions
Dr. Giuditta Bargiacchi E-Mail
University of Campania
Research Keywords: Neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroinflammation, neurocognitive and behavioral phenotyping, pediatric sleep regulation, neuropsychology in developmental age, sensory processing and neurophysiological correlates, early biomarkers of atypical development, integrative approaches to child neuropsychiatry
About the Special lssue
The neurobiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) has undergone a profound transformation in recent years. Beyond classical neuropsychological and behavioral frameworks, converging evidence now highlights the central role of neuroinflammation, immune-metabolic signaling pathways, synaptic plasticity alterations, neurochemical modulation, and mitochondrial dysregulation in shaping the developing brain. These domains—once viewed as peripheral—are now essential to understanding the trajectories of conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, intellectual disability, epilepsy-related neurodevelopmental syndromes, and rare neurogenetic disorders.
Emerging research reveals intricate interactions among these biological systems that influence not only neurodevelopmental vulnerability but also sleep-wake regulation, cognitive functioning, sensory reactivity, and emotional-behavioral profiles. In parallel, advances in multimodal neuroimaging, electrophysiology, metabolomics, genomics, digital phenotyping, and other high-resolution analytical technologies are reshaping diagnostic precision and enabling earlier, more individualized interventions.
This Special Issue invites high-quality contributions addressing the new neurobiology of NDDs, spanning basic science, translational approaches, clinical biomarkers, therapeutic modulation, and innovative preventive strategies. We welcome original research articles, reviews, case-based translational insights, and multidisciplinary perspectives.
By integrating molecular, physiological, and behavioral levels of analysis, this Special Issue seeks to advance a more comprehensive and biologically grounded understanding of neurodevelopment, ultimately supporting precision-medicine applications and improving outcomes for children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Keywords: Neurodevelopmental disorders, neuroinflammation, neurochemical modulation, pediatric neuropsychiatry, biomarkers, precision medicine, synaptic plasticity, neuroimmune interactions, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, neurogenetic disorders, neuroglial biology