Topics and Trends in Most Cited Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research Papers

Ranked by citations 18 months after publication

Class of 2026 (Papers Published in 2024)

What topics and trends defined most-cited Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research research in the Class of 2026?

Memory mechanisms and hippocampal circuits dominate the Class of 2026, with major surges in research on memory engrams and astrocyte-neuron interactions. Conversely, broad techniques like optogenetics and calcium imaging saw proportional declines as focus sharpened on specific molecular and cellular pathways.

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Updated July 15, 2026

At a glance

Field
Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Cohort label
Class of 2026 (2024 publications)
Papers analyzed
7,381
Papers ranked
20
Top topics in ranked papers
Hippocampus, hippocampal neurons, memory engrams, synaptic plasticity
Publication window
Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
Eligibility
Research articles; reviews excluded
Citation window
18 months post-publication
18m citation range
57–208
Data source
OpenAlex · Retrieved July 2026
License
CC BY 4.0

Rankings

20 papers ranked by 18-month citation count

#1 of 7,381
20818m citations

A petavoxel fragment of human cerebral cortex reconstructed at nanoscale resolution

Alexander Shapson-Coe, Michał Januszewski, Daniel R Berger et al.Science202410.1126/science.adk4858

Alexander Shapson-Coe, Michał Januszewski, Daniel R. Berger, Viren Jain, Jeff W. LichtmanHarvard University, United States

nanoscale resolutionhuman temporal cortexultrastructure reconstructionpetavoxel datasetepileptic focusglia-to-neuron ratiooligodendrocytesdeep layer excitatory neuronsdendritic orientationaxonal inputsSynaptic connectivitypowerful synapsesconnectomicselectron microscopycubic millimeter tissue volumecortical cell typesblood vessel reconstructionsynaptic census
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#2 of 7,381
10618m citations

Adenosine signalling to astrocytes coordinates brain metabolism and function

Shefeeq M Theparambil et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07611-w

Shefeeq M. Theparambil, Alexander V. GourineUniversity College London, United Kingdom

adenosine signallingastrocytesbrain metabolismA2B receptorsAstrocyte-neuron interactionsglucose metabolismlactate releasecAMP-PKA signalling pathwayconditional gene deletionsynaptic functionSynaptic plasticityhippocampusrecognition memorysleepenergy demandneuronal activity-dependent activationextracellular energy substratesneuromodulatorbrain energy metabolism reprogramming
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#3 of 7,381
10418m citations

Brain clearance is reduced during sleep and anesthesia

Andawei Miao, Tianyuan Luo et al.Nature Neuroscience202410.1038/s41593-024-01638-y

William Wisden, Nicholas P. FranksImperial College London, United Kingdom

Brain clearancesleepanesthesiametabolite clearancetoxin clearancefluorescent molecule trackingmolecular movementmale micewake statereduced clearance during sleepreduced clearance during anesthesiasleep function
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#4 of 7,381
9618m citations

Abstract representations emerge in human hippocampal neurons during inference

Hristos S Courellis, Juri Minxha et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07799-x

Hristos Courellis, Ueli RutishauserCedars-Sinai Medical Center, United States

abstract representationshippocampal neuronsinferential reasoning taskrepresentational geometrydisentangled representationsSingle-neuron recordingamygdalamedial frontal cortexventral temporal cortexneurosurgical patientslatent task variablestrial-and-error learningverbal instructionstask structure learningcognitive generalizationneural population codinghippocampus-specific encodinglearning-dependent emergence
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#6 of 7,381
8218m citations

Blood pressure pulsations modulate central neuronal activity via mechanosensitive ion channels

Luna Jammal Salameh et al.Science202410.1126/science.adk8511

Luna Jammal, Veronica EggerRegensburg University, Germany

arterial pressure pulsationsintracranial pressure pulsationsmechanosensitive ion channelsolfactory bulb mitral cellslocal field oscillationsbaroreceptive transductionsemi-intact rat brain preparationheartbeat entrainmentneuronal spiking modulationfast excitatory mechanotransductioninteroceptive mechanismcerebral vascular systemsynaptic transmission independenceawake animal recordingsolfactory perception modulation
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#7 of 7,381
8118m citations

A mouse DRG genetic toolkit reveals morphological and physiological diversity of somatosensory neuron subtypes

Lijun Qi et al.Cell202410.1016/j.cell.2024.02.006

David D. Ginty, Nikhil SharmaHoward Hughes Medical Institute, United States

dorsal root gangliaDRG somatosensory neuronsmouse genetic toolkitcutaneous targeting DRG neuron subtypescutaneous axon arborizationaxon branching patternstranscriptomic cell typesin vivo physiological analysismechanical stimulus thresholdthermal stimulus thresholdstimulus response rangesensory neuron tilingmechanical and thermal encodingmorphological heterogeneityphysiological diversity
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#8 of 7,381
7518m citations

Control of working memory by phase–amplitude coupling of human hippocampal neurons

Jonathan Daume et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07309-z

Jonathan Daume, Ueli RutishauserCedars-Sinai Medical Center, United States

working memoryphase–amplitude couplingtheta–gamma phase–amplitude couplingTG-PAChippocampal neuronscognitive controlpersistent activitymedial temporal lobefrontal lobeSingle-neuron recordingPAC neuronsspike timingfrontal theta activitynoise correlationspopulation code geometryworking memory loadworking memory fidelitymulticomponent architecturetop-down controlcross-area coordination
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#9 of 7,381
7418m citations

Learning-associated astrocyte ensembles regulate memory recall

Michael R Williamson, Wookbong Kwon et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-08170-w

Benjamin DeneenBaylor College of Medicine, United States

astrocyte ensemblesMemory retrievallearning-associated astrocytesMemory engramsCalcium imagingchemogenetic manipulationfear conditioninghippocampusAstrocyte-neuron interactionsmemory encodingEnsemble reactivationactivity-dependent labelingglial modulation of memory
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#10 of 7,381
7218m citations

Tonic and burst-like locus coeruleus stimulation distinctly shift network activity across the cortical hierarchy

Christina Grimm, Sian N Duss et al.Nature Neuroscience202410.1038/s41593-024-01755-8

Johannes Bohacek, Valerio ZerbiETH Zürich, Switzerland

locus coeruleusnoradrenaline releasetonic firingburst-like firingOptogeneticsphotometryfunctional magnetic resonance imagingLC-NA systemcortical hierarchynetwork activityassociative processingsensory processingastrocytic activityinhibitory activitytopological configurationNA release dynamicsbrain connectivity
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#12 of 7,381
6618m citations

Multi Targeted Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease by Guanidinium-Modified Calixarene and Cyclodextrin Co-Assembly Loaded with Insulin

Qi-Yue Zhang et al.ACS Nano202410.1021/acsnano.4c05693

Yuchen Pan, Tao Zhang, Hui WangHebei University of Technology, China

Alzheimer's diseaseAmyloid-βinsulin resistanceguanidinium-modified calixarenecyclodextrinGCD coassemblyinsulin deliverymacrocyclic amphiphilesplaque depositionmetabolic dysregulationneuronal apoptosisSynaptic losscognitive impairment5xFAD micemulti-targeted therapy
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#14 of 7,381
6318m citations

A neurophysiological basis for aperiodic EEG and the background spectral trend

Niklas Brake et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-45922-8

Anmar Khadra, Gilles PlourdeMcGill University, Canada

aperiodic EEG1/f spectral trendbroadband EEGbiophysical modellingScalp EEGbrain rhythm quantificationsynapse propertiespropofolGABA receptor agonistgeneral anestheticloss of consciousnessdelta powerbroadband EEG changesnetwork oscillationsrhythmic EEGspectral parameterization
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#15 of 7,381
6218m citations

Functional specificity of recurrent inhibition in visual cortex

Petr Znamenskiy et al.Neuron202410.1016/j.neuron.2023.12.013

Petr Znamenskiy, Thomas D. Mrsic‐FlogelThe Francis Crick Institute, United Kingdom

recurrent inhibitionvisual cortexParvalbumin-expressing interneuronsPV+ cellspyramidal neuronsSynaptic connectivityfunctional tuningvisual response selectivitysynaptic weight organizationexcitatory-inhibitory balancefeature-specific ensemblestuned inhibitionin vivo recordingmouse primary visual cortexCircuit stabilityensemble competition
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#16 of 7,381
6018m citations

Whole-brain spatial organization of hippocampal single-neuron projectomes

Shou Qiu, Yachuang Hu, Yiming Huang, Taosha Gao et al.Science202410.1126/science.adj9198

Shou Qiu, Yachuang Hu, Yiming Huang, Taosha Gao, Y. S. Huang, Yidi Sun, Chengyu Li, Haishan Yao, Hui Gong, Yan-Gang Sun, Chun XuChinese Academy of Sciences, China

single-neuron projectomeshippocampuswhole-brain connectivity mappingprojectome subtypeslongitudinal axistransverse axisspatial transcriptomic profileshippocampal formationintra-HPF projectionsextra-HPF projectionsbihemispheric projecting neuronshomologous targetsipsilateral preferenceaxon-tip distributionhippocampal subdomainsmouse hippocampusprojection patternswiring diagrams
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#17 of 7,381
6018m citations

Brain region–specific action of ketamine as a rapid antidepressant

Min Chen et al.Science202410.1126/science.ado7010

Hailan HuZhejiang University, China

ketamineNMDA receptorNMDA receptor antagonismlateral habenulahippocampal pyramidal neuronsuse-dependent blockadeextrasynaptic NMDAR poolregional neural activityconditional NMDAR knockoutserotonin elevationbrain-derived neurotrophic factordepressive-like micerapid antidepressantLHb inactivationhippocampal activationbrain region selectivityprimary versus secondary drug targets
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#18 of 7,381
6018m citations

Human hippocampal and entorhinal neurons encode the temporal structure of experience

Pawel Tacikowski et al.Nature202410.1038/s41586-024-07973-1

Paweł Tacikowski, Itzhak FriedUniversity of California, Los Angeles, United States

hippocampal neuronsentorhinal neuronstemporal structure encodingintracranial electroencephalographySingle-neuron recordingsequence learningstructural graph representationpopulation activitypredictive codingHippocampal replayhippocampal-entorhinal circuitsimage presentation sequencegraph trajectoriesrapid learning without instructionwhat-when integrationpersistent neural representationstimulus probability encoding
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#19 of 7,381
5918m citations

Complex activity and short-term plasticity of human cerebral organoids reciprocally connected with axons

Tatsuya Osaki, Tomoya Duenki, Siu Yu A Chow et al.Nature Communications202410.1038/s41467-024-46787-7

Yoshiho IkeuchiThe University of Tokyo, Japan

Brain organoidinter-regional cortical tractinter-organoid axonal connectionsreciprocal axon projectionsoscillatory activitynetwork activityOptogeneticsactivity entrainmentshort-term plasticitymacroscopic circuitin vitro neural tissue modelaxon bundlesneural circuit integrationdirectly fused organoidsstructural huborganoid-circuits
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#20 of 7,381
5718m citations

Selection of experience for memory by hippocampal sharp wave ripples

Wannan Yang et al.Science202410.1126/science.adk8261

György BuzsákiNew York University, United States

hippocampal sharp wave ripplesSPW-Rsmemory consolidationexperience selectionHippocampal replaymaze traversalspopulation driftdimensionality reductiontrial block decodingspike contentreward consumptionpostexperience sleepneurophysiological tagginglarge-scale neural recordingsplace codingreactivation frequency
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Dominant research themes and year-over-year shifts in Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research is heavily anchored in memory formation and cellular circuitry. The hippocampus emerges as the undisputed focal point, supported by prominent representation of hippocampal neurons and synaptic plasticity. High-resolution cellular mapping is evident through the prevalence of research into memory engrams and single-neuron recordings, indicating a field-wide push to demystify the exact physical traces of memory. Moreover, the metabolic and supporting roles of glial cells are capturing significant attention, as seen in the frequent study of astrocyte-neuron interactions and metabolic substrates like lactate and glutamate. Together, these topics reflect a paradigm where neuropharmacology is increasingly intersecting with ultra-precise cellular engram analysis and neuro-glial metabolic coupling.

Leading research themes
Leading research themes

How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

A comparison between the Class of 2025 and 2026 reveals a distinct transition from broad methodological techniques to highly specific cellular subjects. The most explosive growth was seen in hippocampal neurons and memory engrams, which were absent from the top concepts in the previous year but surged to dominate the current cohort. Similarly, topics related to neurotransmitters and glial cells, such as glutamate, lactate, and oligodendrocytes, experienced massive proportional increases. In contrast, widely used experimental methodologies that previously led the field—such as optogenetics and calcium imaging—experienced notable proportional declines. This pattern suggests that while these tools remain essential, the frontier of high-impact research has moved past methodological development toward the direct application of these tools in uncovering the granular mechanics of memory and astrocyte-neuron interactions.

How topics shifted year over year
How topics shifted year over year
Methodology

PRI identifies high-impact research using a transparent, topic-agnostic framework applied consistently across scientific domains. Bibliographic records are drawn from OpenAlex, including publication dates, citation relationships, and document types.

This ranking covers the Class of 2026 cohort: journal articles published in 2024. Reviews and other non-article document types are excluded to ensure comparability.

Research impact is quantified with an 18-month post-publication citation window—the number of citing works published within 18 months of each paper's publication date. This metric captures early impact while controlling for publication age.

An LLM-based relevance classifier then reviews each candidate's title and abstract to confirm substantive alignment with the target domain. Only papers classified as relevant appear in the final ranking.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459

Full methodologyGitHubbioRxiv preprint

Cite this ranking

Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/neuroscience-and-neuropharmacology-research/2026. Accessed 2026-07-15.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459