The advancement of modern optical technologies has provided unprecedented opportunities for the detection, diagnosis and understanding of various brain pathologies within in vivo models as well as in patients. Applications of photonics hardware span a wide range of temporal scales and support imaging from the microscopic to macroscopic level. Equally important to the hardware are the innovations in molecular photonics (e.g. fluorescent and bioluminescent proteins, biosensors, nanoparticles) that provide increased imaging sensitivity and specificity or real-time control of cell-specific activity. The combination of translational molecular-genetic probes and optical hardware platforms provides unique opportunities for the discovery, delivery, and evaluation of new therapies designed to treat brain disorders.

This special section highlights the unique aspects of optical imaging methods for identifying and evaluating various brain diseases and pathological conditions in a live setting. We invite contributions from experts specialising in brain pathology to those focused on technology development. Paper types can include original research, literature reviews, primers, protocols, and perspective/opinion pieces. Descriptions of innovative hardware or novel applications relevant to evaluating brain disease are also welcome. We plan to include a broad range of topics spanning translational science across species to clinical applications including but not limited to: 

• Fluorescence Imaging
• Multiphoton Imaging
• Photoacoustic Imaging
• Optical Coherence Tomography
• Optical Intrinsic Signal Imaging
• Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging
• Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
• Diffuse Optical Tomography
• Molecular Photonics (Dyes, Indicators, Biosensors, Nanoparticles, Optogenetics, etc.)

Applied in the Context of:

• Stroke
• Dementias
• Neurodegenerative Diseases
• Traumatic Brian Injury
• Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury
• Brain Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Psychiatric Disorders
• Neuroinflammation

All submissions to the special section will be handled according to the journal’s policy for peer-reviewed publications. To submit a paper, please prepare the manuscript according to the journal guidelines and use the online submission system. Please include a cover letter indicating that the submission is intended for this special section.

Neurophotonics is a Gold Open Access journal. Authors of accepted papers are required to pay an article processing charge (APC) of $1675. Discounts may apply, and the APC is waived for Primer/Protocol/Review/Tutorial papers.

Special sections are opened online once a minimum of four papers have been accepted. Accepted papers are published as soon as the copyedited and typeset proofs are approved by the author and the APC is paid.

Recent advances in optical tools are enabling detailed in vivo studies of brain metabolism in the mammalian brain. Sensors that are sensitive to glucose, lactate, glutamate, GABA, and others are providing new information on the interplay between nutrient supply, availability and consumption, removal or excretion, cellular energetics, and cellular signaling. While the role of astrocytes and neurons is recognized in brain energetics, it is also becoming evident that support cells like astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and even microglia, contribute to the metabolic support of neuronal signaling. Even as big strides in neuroenergetics continue, the contribution of different cell types relative to the cost of vital signaling pathways remains largely elusive.

This special section aims to highlight new optical tools becoming available to study brain energetics in health and disease. We welcome submissions from efforts that image, record and modulate brain metabolism in animals and humans. These include but are not limited to:

• Lactate, glucose, or ketone metabolism
• Oxygen sensors
• Autofluorescence imaging (NADH, FAD
• Optogenetics
• Chemogenetics paired with optical imaging
• Hemodynamics, vascular, metabolic intrinsic optical imaging
• Tool development

All submissions to the special section will be handled according to the journal’s policy for peer-reviewed publications. To submit a paper, please prepare the manuscript according to the journal guidelines and use the online submission system. Please include a cover letter indicating that the submission is intended for this special section.

Neurophotonics is a Gold Open Access journal. Authors of accepted papers are required to pay an article processing charge (APC) of $1675. Discounts may apply, and the APC is waived for Primer/Protocol/Review/Tutorial papers.

Special sections are opened online once a minimum of four papers have been accepted. Accepted papers are published as soon as the copyedited and typeset proofs are approved by the author and the APC is paid.

As functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) technology continues to advance, it offers unprecedented opportunities to study brain function in diverse populations and settings. fNIRS provides a non-invasive and portable method for monitoring cerebral oxygenation and hemodynamics, making it a powerful tool when addressing global health challenges. From the potential to provide markers for early detection of neurological disorders to informing our understanding of cognitive development and mental health across different cultural and environmental contexts, fNIRS is proving to be invaluable.

This special issue aims to publish the latest innovations in fNIRS technology and its applications for global health research. We invite contributions that highlight advancements in fNIRS methodology, novel applications in various global health contexts, and studies demonstrating the impact of fNIRS on improving health outcomes. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Innovations in fNIRS technology and instrumentation

• Applications of fNIRS in monitoring brain health in diverse populations

• fNIRS in low-resource and remote settings

• Integration of fNIRS with other neuroimaging modalities

• Studies on cognitive development, mental health, and neurological disorders using fNIRS

• Advances in data analysis and interpretation for fNIRS data

• Case studies and field applications of fNIRS in global health initiatives

• Development of new fNIRS-based diagnostic tools and interventions

All submissions to the special section will be handled according to the journal’s policy for peer-reviewed publications. To submit a paper, please prepare the manuscript according to the journal guidelines and use the online submission system. Please include a cover letter indicating that the submission is intended for this special section.

Neurophotonics is a Gold Open Access journal. Authors of accepted papers are required to pay an article processing charge (APC) of $1675. Discounts may apply, and the APC is waived for Primer/Protocol/Review/Tutorial papers.

Special sections are opened online once a minimum of four papers have been accepted. Accepted papers are published as soon as the copyedited and typeset proofs are approved by the author and the APC is paid.