How the brain changes as a function of sex and as we age are profound and relatively under-researched questions. The April cover challenges us to consider the maturation stages that make up the developmental trajectory over the lifespan and suggest the different windows of time in which the interplay of systems is especially salient, such as neuroendocrine function and puberty.

See our Editorial for more insights into sex and the brain across the lifespan.

The cover of the March issue focuses on the issue of the experience of loneliness and social isolation that can occur even when one is surrounded by others. Research investigating these constructs considers the nuances of the subjective and objective dimensions — where loneliness refers to the distress that arises from feeling one does not have enough fulfilling social contact, and social isolation refers to the limited number and quality of social contacts. Notably, both are associated with poor physical and mental health. Finding ways to disrupt the feeling of loneliness and experiencing social isolation is crucial for protecting vulnerable people, such as adolescents and older adults.

Read more in our Editorial, and see Benedyk et al. on the effects of physical activity on loneliness and social isolation.

The February cover is a moody depiction of climate mental health. Intended to invoke the idea of the interplay among Gaia (the spirit of Earth), nature and humanity, the blue tones also reference the Connecting Climate Minds project. As a means for placing mental health prominently in climate agendas, this initiative is a catalyst for invigorating the broader climate mental health field.

See our Editorial for more on the emerging field of climate mental health

In this issue, Williams et al. present the results from the Stanford Hypnosis Integrated with Functional Connectivity-targeted Transcranial Stimulation (SHIFT) trial investigating imaging-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) to increase the ability to be hypnotized. Hypnosis has been posited as a non-pharmacological intervention for functional pain disorders. The trial demonstrated that in a sample of participants with fibromyalgia syndrome, inhibition of the L-DLPFC was associated with greater ability to be hypnotized, indicative of a promising target for noninvasive neuromodulation. The cover depicts a representation of neuromodulation of the L-DLPFC during the SHIFT paradigm.

See Williams et al.