Mounting evidence in the last years has demonstrated that self-regulation of brain activity can successfully be achieved by neurofeedback (NF). These methodologies have constituted themselves as new tools for cognitive neuroscience establishing causal links between voluntary brain activations and cognition and behavior, and as potential novel approaches for clinical applications in severe neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, Parkinson´s disease, etc.). Current developments of brain imaging-based neurofeedback include the study of the behavioral modifications and neural reorganization produced by learned regulation of the activity of circumscribed brain regions and neuronal network activations. In a rapidly developing field, many open questions and controversies have arisen, i.e. choosing the proper experimental design, the adequate use of control conditions and subjects, the mechanism of learning involved in brain self-regulation, and the still unexplored potential long-lasting effect on brain reorganization and clinical alleviation, among others. This special issue on self-regulation of the brain of emotion and attention using NF approaches interested authors to report technical and methodological advances, scientific investigations in understanding the relation between brain activity and behaviour using NF, and finally studies developing clinical treatment of emotional and attentional disorders. The editors of this special issue anticipate rapid developments in this emerging field.

Mounting evidence in the last years has demonstrated that self-regulation of brain activity can successfully be achieved by neurofeedback (NF). These methodologies have constituted themselves as new tools for cognitive neuroscience establishing causal links between voluntary brain activations and cognition and behavior, and as potential novel approaches for clinical applications in severe neuropsychiatric disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, Parkinson ́s disease, etc.). Current developments of brain imaging-based neurofeedback include the study of the behavioral modifications and neural reorganization produced by learned regulation of the activity of circumscribed brain regions and neuronal network activations. In a rapidly developing field, many open questions and controversies have arisen, i.e. choosing the proper experimental design, the adequate use of control conditions and subjects, the mechanism of learning involved in brain self-regulation, and the still unexplored potential long-lasting effect on brain reorganization and clinical alleviation, among others. This special issue on self-regulation of the brain of emotion and attention using NF approaches interested authors to report technical and methodological advances, scientific investigations in understanding the relation between brain activity and behaviour using NF, and finally studies developing clinical treatment of emotional and attentional disorders. The editors of this special issue anticipate rapid developments in this emerging field.

What can we learn from spontaneously occurring brain and other physiological signals about an individual’s cognitive and affective state and how can we make use of this information? One line of research that is actively involved with this question is Passive Brain-Computer-Interfaces (BCI). To date most BCIs are aimed at assisting patients for whom brain signals could form an alternative output channel as opposed to more common human output channels, like speech and moving the hands. However, brain signals (possibly in combination with other physiological signals) also form an output channel above and beyond the more usual ones: they can potentially provide continuous, online information about an individual’s cognitive and affective state without the need of conscious or effortful communication. The provided information could be used in a number of ways. Examples include monitoring cognitive workload through EEG and skin conductance for adaptive automation or using ERPs in response to errors to correct for a behavioral response. While Passive BCIs make use of online (neuro)physiological responses and close the interaction cycle between a user and a computer system, (neuro)physiological responses can also be used in an offline fashion. Examples of this include detecting amygdala responses for neuromarketing, and measuring EEG and pupil dilation as indicators of mental effort for optimizing information systems. The described field of applied (neuro)physiology can strongly benefit from high quality scientific studies that control for confounding factors and use proper comparison conditions. Another area of relevance is ethics, ranging from dubious product claims, acceptance of the technology by the general public, privacy of users, to possible effects that these kinds of applications may have on society as a whole. In this Research Topic we aimed to publish studies of the highest scientific quality that are directed towards applications that utilize spontaneously, effortlessly generated neurophysiological signals (brain and/or other physiological signals) reflecting cognitive or affective state. We especially welcomed studies that describe specific real world applications demonstrating a significant benefit compared to standard applications. We also invited original, new kinds of (proposed) applications in this area as well as comprehensive review articles that point out what is and what is not possible (according to scientific standards) in this field. Finally, we welcomed manuscripts on the ethical issues that are involved. Connected to the Research Topic was a workshop (held on June 6, during the Fifth International Brain-Computer Interface Meeting, June 3-7, 2013, Asilomar, California) that brought together a diverse group of people who were working in this field. We discussed the state of the art and formulated major challenges, as reflected in the first paper of the Research Topic.

How we raise young children is one of today's most highly personalized and sharply politicized issues, in part because each of us can claim some level of "expertise." The debate has intensified as discoveries about our development-in the womb and in the first months and years-have reached the popular media. How can we use our burgeoning knowledge to assure the well-being of all young children, for their own sake as well as for the sake of our nation? Drawing from new findings, this book presents important conclusions about nature-versus-nurture, the impact of being born into a working family, the effect of politics on programs for children, the costs and benefits of intervention, and other issues. The committee issues a series of challenges to decision makers regarding the quality of child care, issues of racial and ethnic diversity, the integration of children's cognitive and emotional development, and more. Authoritative yet accessible, From Neurons to Neighborhoods presents the evidence about "brain wiring" and how kids learn to speak, think, and regulate their behavior. It examines the effect of the climate-family, child care, community-within which the child grows.

The self-regulation of brain activity in humans by means of operant conditioning ( contingent reinforcement) represents a fascinating and promising new methodology in behavioral neuroscience and psychophysiology. Introduced in the early 1960s by Joe Kamiya, research in this area has produced a potentially significant clinical application in behavioral and neurological disorders. Feedback and reinforcement of aspects of electrical brain activity allow a noninvasive modification of human brain responses. Biofeedback of CNS activity may not only be useful as an aid in therapeutic interventions, but also serve as a valuable tool in basic research: physiological responses can be altered in a well-controlled manner and the de­ pendent behavioral and autonomic variables can be monitored. It is still unclear whether the operantly modified brain responses and behavioral/autonomic con­ comitants are directly, causally linked together; the possibility of motor and visceral mediation of the conditioned brain responses remains to be clarified. However, the contributions to this volume clearly demonstrate a rather specific relationship between different conditioned responses from various parts of the brain and some unique behavioral consequences. Operant conditioning of the sensorimotor rhythm in the postcentral area "produces" motor quiescence (see Sterman, Chapter 7 and Lubar, Chapter 8); first results suggest that the conditioning of left postcentral negative slow potential shifts are closely related to the contralateral sensoric task performance (as described by Rockstroh, Elbert, Lutzenberger, & Birbaumer, Chapter 15).

This comprehensive review of the neuropsychology of emotion and the underlying neural mechanisms, is divided into four sections: background and general techniques, theoretical perspectives, emotional disorders, and clinical implications.