Special Issue on Cognitive Neuroscience Studies of Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

Scientists in the now well-established field of cognitive neuroscience have made significant progress in elucidating the neural substrates and cognitive processing underpinnings of a wide range of cognitive functions. However, its focus has been predominantly on typical adult function; much less attention has been given to typical and atypical development. However, cognitive neuroscientific methods hold considerable promise for significantly advancing explanations for the basis for many conditions that produce intellectual and developmental disabilities. Also, because of their neurobiological and mechanistic strengths, these methods are likely to lead to rapid progress towards a range of interventions. In keeping with the AJMR editorial board's goal of encouraging publication of relevant articles from cognitive neuroscience, we are pleased to announce a call for submissions for the Special Issue on Cognitive Neuroscience Studies. The purpose of this special issue is to provide a rare opportunity to present a collection of papers whose authors attempt to specify the neurocognitive basis of functional impairments associated with intellectual or developmental disabilities. We hope that these papers will highlight the promise of cognitive neuroscience methods for research into atypical cognitive development more generally.The Special Issue on Cognitive Neuroscience Studies will primarily contain (a) original reports of empirical research that apply some combination of experimental cognitive processing, computational modeling, neuroimaging, genetic/genomic, and other relevant methods to the analysis and explanation of intellectual or developmental disabilities. However, it may also include (b) reviews of literature in which investigators critique, evaluate, and summarize the strengths and weakness of the cognitive neuroscience methods for research into intellectual and developmental disabilities; and (c) discussions of standards for research design, methods, and evidence synthesis that relate to the special requirements of cognitive neuroscience investigations into intellectual and developmental disabilities.Submissions for this special issue are due by December 15, 2008. In addition to the topical guidelines described above, manuscripts should conform to the length and format guidelines for regular submissions to AJMR. All submissions will be peer-reviewed following current AJMR procedures and policies. Please specify in your submission cover letter whether you would like your manuscript to be considered for the Special Issue on Cognitive Neuroscience Studies.Tony J. Simon (tjsimon@ucdavis.edu) will serve as editor of the special issue. Inquiries about guidelines and submissions may be addressed to him directly.