Volume 10 Issue 5, May 2007

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the selective degeneration of motor neurons. Two independent studies in this issue show that astrocytes expressing a mutation in the enzyme superoxide dismutase can exacerbate motor neuron death, supporting previous suggestions that non-neuronal cells contribute to ALS pathogenesis.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels participate in many diverse neuronal functions. A study in this issue now shows that TRPC-dependent calcium fluxes are also crucial to neurotrophin-induced cell survival signaling.

Sensory cortex area 3a contains a map of the body. A new paper reports the location of eye position signals in this map, which should allow researchers to test the functions of eye position signals and visual gain fields in more detail.

Contrary to the synaptic homeostasis theory, new work finds that reactivating memories during slow-wave sleep enhances learning and hippocampal activation. This may be useful for treating post-traumatic stress disorder.