When viral infections rewire neural circuits: towards cognitive virology.

Viral infections cause a wide range of neurocognitive disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms that give rise to acute and chronic cognitive deficits remain poorly understood. In this opinion article we review current knowledge on the close interactions between viruses and synapses from animal and human-based models, including how viral infections restructure synapses, disrupt synaptic transmission and neuromodulation, and interfere with synaptic plasticity, as well as how synapses contribute to viral dissemination. We further discuss how neuroimmune responses can both contribute to host defense and cause pathological damage to the nervous system that can lead to cognitive deficits. The emerging field of cognitive virology aims for expanded interdisciplinary studies to understand the molecular mechanisms by which viral infections lead to cognitive dysfunction.

• Publication year

  2025

• Venue

  Trends in Neurosciences

• Publication date

  2025-11-01

• Fields of study

  Biology, Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1016/j.tins.2025.10.005PMID 41206222
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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