This Special Issue explores the dynamic cognitive, emotional, and neural mechanisms underlying psychological change and mental health across the lifespan, integrating experimental, clinical, and translational perspectives.
Guest editors:
Dr. Sandra Carvalho
University of Minho School of Psychology, Braga, Portugal
Dr. Jorge Leite
Prince Henry Portucalense University, Porto, Portugal
Dr. Silvana Lopes da Costa
Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, NJ, USA
Special issue information:
This Special Issue aims to advance the understanding of dynamic processes and mechanisms that underlie cognition, emotion, and behavior throughout the human lifespan. Psychological processes—such as attention, memory, emotion regulation, motivation, and executive control—are functional systems that evolve across developmental stages and influence both adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Mechanisms refer to the biological, neural, and physiological foundations of these processes, including structural and functional brain changes, neurochemical signaling, and electrophysiological activity.
By linking these domains, the issue seeks to clarify how mental health and psychopathology emerge, transform, and respond to intervention. We welcome empirical studies, systematic reviews, and theoretical papers that elucidate mechanisms of change in psychotherapy, neuromodulation, and behavioral treatments; identify neural and psychophysiological markers of dysfunction and recovery; and apply process-based and computational approaches to model change and resilience. Contributions using innovative methodologies (fMRI, EEG/ERP, tDCS/tACS/TMS, ultrasound, biomarkers, or lifespan designs) and emphasizing translational relevance are especially encouraged. The overarching goal is to foster an integrative view of clinical and health psychology grounded in mechanisms of change across the lifespan.
We invite high-quality empirical and theoretical contributions examining how biological, cognitive, and affective systems interact to shape mental health and illness. Studies employing experimental and translational methodologies—such as brain stimulation, neuroimaging, EEG/ERP, eye-tracking, computational modeling, or biomarkers—are particularly encouraged. By integrating lifespan, clinical, and mechanistic perspectives, this issue aims to deepen our understanding of how and why psychological change occurs, with implications for prevention, diagnosis, and personalized intervention.
Manuscript submission information:
Submission link: https://www.editorialmanager.com/ijchp/Default.aspx
Submission deadline: 31st October 2026
Article type name: "VSI: Change Mechanisms in Clinical and Health Psychology"
Keywords:
Lifespan development; mechanisms of change; cognition; emotion regulation; executive functions; mental health; neuroplasticity; noninvasive brain stimulation; biomarkers; EEG/ERP; fMRI; computational psychiatry; process-based therapy;clinical neuroscience
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Acepta nuevos artículos hasta el 31 de October de 2026 