Cross-Species Approaches to Understanding Human Cognition

Recent methodological advances including high-density intracranial recordings and population-level analytical frameworks enable deeper and more direct integration between animal models and human neuroscience. As a result, there is an increasing need for standardized behavioral paradigms and circuit-level analyses that can be used in both animals and humans. Cross-species approaches provide crucial foundations for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders. Parallel experiments validate therapeutic targets and enable development of mechanistically grounded behavioral biomarkers for early disease detection. Here, we provide a brief review of recent findings that have direct implications for attention deficits, memory impairments, and decision-making dysfunctions. By linking mechanism to behavior, these approaches guide targeted interventions and effective clinical translation. While challenges remain, these integrated approaches are advancing our understanding of the mechanistic foundation of human cognition.