Editorial: Women in behavioral neuroscience: 2022

This Research Topic is composed of five original articles that provide novel insight regarding important behavioral domains in different animal models and in both sexes. Rodent models serve an essential role in behavioral/molecular/anatomical work as they facilitate inquiry of important questions at the intersection of brain and behavior, not possible to investigate in humans. Indeed, animal models provide a more rapid route to advances in our understanding of the neural mechanisms and behavioral readouts observed in human neuropsychiatric conditions. However, behavioral tests and outcome measure interpretation need careful consideration to promote internal validity, scientific rigor, and translatability of findings, as we recognize that rodent neuropsychiatric-like behavior, or behavior in general, do not precisely mirror that of humans. Nonetheless, behavioral mechanisms and approaches can provide powerful evidence to extend or refute parallelism for translational impact and will stimulate further investigations.