●Got milk? Oxytocin triggers hippocampal plasticity (News and Views). Monks, D. A. et al. Nature Neuroscience April (2003)

●Beyond the gap: functions of unpaired connexon channels. Goodenough, D. A. & Paul, D. L. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology April (2003) Gap junctions are intercellular channels that directly connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. Each cell contributes half of the channel, which is called a connexon or hemichannel. Recent studies indicate that extrajunctional connexons might be essential in intercellular signalling beyond their incorporation into gap junctions.

●Pattern Formation in Zebrafish. Thisse, C. Nature Cell Biology April (2003) C. Thisse reviews the book of the same name edited by Lilianna Solnica-Krezel.

●New insights into the roles of agrin. Bezakova, G. & Ruegg, M. A. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology April (2003) The heparan sulphate proteoglycan agrin is best known as an organizer of postsynaptic differentiation at the neuromuscular junction, but it has recently been implicated in the formation of the immunological synapse, in the organization of the cytoskeleton and in the amelioration of function in diseased muscle.

●Neurons inhibit neurogenesis. Hastings, N. B. & Gould, E. Nature Medicine March (2003) A News and Views article that discusses how differentiated neurons can regulate cell numbers in the olfactory epithelium by inhibiting neurogenesis.

●A lethal giant kinase in cell polarity. Justice, N. J. & Jan, Y. N. Nature Cell Biology April (2003) As part of a focus issue on cell polarity, this News and Views article considers new findings that might explain how apical polarity cues in Drosophila neuroblasts influence the distribution of basal proteins.

●Fair's fair. Bewley, T. Nature 13 March (2003) A basic theory of behaviour holds that people act only in their own best interests. However, as this News and Views article reports, a new study indicates that people often make sacrifices to punish the unfairness of others.

●Neurotoxic esterase: not so toxic? O'Callaghan, J. P. Nature Genetics April (2003) A News and Views article on a study that provides new clues about the biological actions of organophosphates, which are important components of many pesticides and nerve gases.

●The Emperor's New Theory. Gilbert, A. N. Nature Neuroscience April (2003) A review of the book The Emperor of Scent: a Story of Perfume, Obsession, and the Last Mystery of the Senses by Chandler Burr.