Deceiving the law - p1231

doi:10.1038/nn1108-1231

Lie-detection tests have not been scientifically proven to reliably detect deception at an individual level, yet they are being marketed by several companies and have even been admitted as evidence in an Indian court. This calls for a critical appraisal of these technologies and regulatory measures to prevent misuse.

Full Text - Deceiving the law | PDF (242 KB) - Deceiving the law

Credibility crisis in pediatric psychiatry - p1233

Joseph Biederman

doi:10.1038/nn1108-1233

Full Text - Credibility crisis in pediatric psychiatry | PDF (101 KB) - Credibility crisis in pediatric psychiatry

Brain science for the novice - p1235

Steven Hyman reviews Welcome to Your Brain by Sandra Aamodt & Sam Wang

doi:10.1038/nn1108-1235

Full Text - Brain science for the novice | PDF (157 KB) - Brain science for the novice

What is in the brain soup? - pp1237 - 1238

Károly Mirnics

doi:10.1038/nn1108-1237

Oldham et al. present a systematic analysis of gene coexpression relationships in specific human brain regions with the goal of identifying groups of genes with common coexpression patterns. The study used the inherent structure of the brain's transcriptome to find data-driven organizational patterns rather than rely on external classification systems.

Full Text - What is in the brain soup? | PDF (3,350 KB) - What is in the brain soup?

See also: Article by Oldham et al.

Staining, straining and restraining prions - pp1239 - 1240

Adriano Aguzzi

doi:10.1038/nn1108-1239

A recent paper reported the in vitro generation of new prion strains, supporting the idea that 'strain-ness' is encoded in the protein structure itself. This lays the groundwork for a reinvigorated study of prion structure–pathology relationships.

Full Text - Staining, straining and restraining prions | PDF (482 KB) - Staining, straining and restraining prions

Destroying memories to strengthen them - pp1241 - 1242

Jerry W Rudy

doi:10.1038/nn1108-1241

A paper in this issue reports that the core mechanisms that strengthen memories have more in common with the mechanisms that support reconsolidation than those that participate in their initial storage.

Full Text - Destroying memories to strengthen them | PDF (445 KB) - Destroying memories to strengthen them

See also: Brief Communication by Lee

So many pixels, so little time - pp1243 - 1244

James A Mazer

doi:10.1038/nn1108-1243

Previous work has focused on neuronal encoding of two-dimensional shapes. Using a new search algorithm and three-dimensional object primitives, a study in this issue identifies potential subunits of complex object recognition.

Full Text - So many pixels, so little time | PDF (212 KB) - So many pixels, so little time

See also: Article by Yamane et al.

Cortical-based neuroprosthetics: when less may be more - pp1245 - 1246

Stephen H Scott

doi:10.1038/nn1108-1245

Combined population activity is usually used to control neural prosthetics. A recent study in Nature finds that a single primary motor cortex neuron can control the artificial stimulation of paralyzed wrist muscles to move a computer cursor.

Full Text - Cortical-based neuroprosthetics: when less may be more | PDF (260 KB) - Cortical-based neuroprosthetics: when less may be more

A master regulator of nociceptor differentiation - p1246

Annette Markus

doi:10.1038/nn1108-1246

Full Text - A master regulator of nociceptor differentiation | PDF (157 KB) - A master regulator of nociceptor differentiation

See also: Article by Sun et al.

Dynamic Notch signaling in neural progenitor cells and a revised view of lateral inhibition - pp1247 - 1251

Ryoichiro Kageyama, Toshiyuki Ohtsuka, Hiromi Shimojo & Itaru Imayoshi

doi:10.1038/nn.2208

In a process termed lateral inhibition, nascent neurons via expression of Notch ligands are thought to suppress neuronal development of adjacent cells. It has recently been shown, however, that expression of the Notch ligands, as well as the proneural transcription factors that induce them, and the Notch effector Hes1 oscillate with a period of a few hours. This dynamic expression pattern is incompatible with the notion of lateral inhibition and demands a new understanding of how all-over oscillatory expression patterns are converted to localized and persistent signaling.

Abstract - | Full Text - Dynamic Notch signaling in neural progenitor cells and a revised view of lateral inhibition | PDF (364 KB) - Dynamic Notch signaling in neural progenitor cells and a revised view of lateral inhibition

Is action potential threshold lowest in the axon? - pp1253 - 1255

Maarten H P Kole & Greg J Stuart

doi:10.1038/nn.2203

The authors report that the action potential voltage threshold is actually higher in the axon than elsewhere in the neuron, but as the current threshold at the axon is lower than elsewhere, the action potential threshold is indeed lowest in the axon.

Abstract - | Full Text - Is action potential threshold lowest in the axon? | PDF (285 KB) - Is action potential threshold lowest in the axon? | Supplementary information

Questioning the role of rebound firing in the cerebellum - pp1256 - 1258

Karina Alviña, Joy T Walter, Adam Kohn, Graham Ellis-Davies & Kamran Khodakhah

doi:10.1038/nn.2195

Under some in vitro conditions, neurons of the deep cerebellar nuclei show a phenomenon called rebound potentiation, where, following a strong hyperpolarization, their membrane potential briefly rebounds to a more depolarized level causing a transient increase in firing rate. The authors, however, found that under more physiological conditions in vitro or in vivo, deep cerebellar nuclei neurons rarely showed rebound potentiation. This finding necessitates a re-evaluation of some cerebellar models, where rebound potentiation was postulated to be involved in plasticity and/or information processing.

Abstract - | Full Text - Questioning the role of rebound firing in the cerebellum | PDF (428 KB) - Questioning the role of rebound firing in the cerebellum | Supplementary information

Specialized neuronal adaptation for preserving input sensitivity - pp1259 - 1261

Paul V Watkins & Dennis L Barbour

doi:10.1038/nn.2201

Subcortical auditory neurons show adaptation-dependent coding of sound intensity. Recordings in awake marmoset reveal two populations of intensity-sensitive neurons at the cortical level: one that has a dynamic range that adapts to the statistics of the environment and another that does not, preserving sensitivity to the lowest intensities.

Abstract - | Full Text - Specialized neuronal adaptation for preserving input sensitivity | PDF (227 KB) - Specialized neuronal adaptation for preserving input sensitivity | Supplementary information

Millisecond-scale differences in neural activity in auditory cortex can drive decisions - pp1262 - 1263

Yang Yang, Michael R DeWeese, Gonzalo H Otazu & Anthony M Zador

doi:10.1038/nn.2211

Auditory cortex neurons fire with high temporal precision to the fine timing of acoustic stimuli. Here, the authors show that stimulation in this area in rat brains, even when differing by as little as 3 ms, can be used to guide decisions.

Abstract - | Full Text - Millisecond-scale differences in neural activity in auditory cortex can drive decisions | PDF (144 KB) - Millisecond-scale differences in neural activity in auditory cortex can drive decisions | Supplementary information

Memory reconsolidation mediates the strengthening of memories by additional learning - pp1264 - 1266

Jonathan L C Lee

doi:10.1038/nn.2205

Memories are dynamic and the reactivation of memories via re-exposure to training stimuli can cause the destabilization of a memory trace. This paper shows that the subsequent reconsolidation of this memory can modify the strength of contextual fear memory during learning.

Abstract - | Full Text - Memory reconsolidation mediates the strengthening of memories by additional learning | PDF (158 KB) - Memory reconsolidation mediates the strengthening of memories by additional learning | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Rudy

Mirror-image representation of action in the anterior parietal cortex - pp1267 - 1269

Lior Shmuelof & Ehud Zohary

doi:10.1038/nn.2196

Shmuelof and Zohary report that actions seen from an allocentric point of view evoke more activation in the ipsilateral anterior parietal cortex than those seen from an egocentric point of view, even in the absence of active imitation, supporting the idea that there is a mirror-image representation of action in this brain region.

Abstract - | Full Text - Mirror-image representation of action in the anterior parietal cortex | PDF (264 KB) - Mirror-image representation of action in the anterior parietal cortex | Supplementary information

Functional organization of the transcriptome in human brain - pp1271 - 1282

Michael C Oldham, Genevieve Konopka, Kazuya Iwamoto, Peter Langfelder, Tadafumi Kato, Steve Horvath & Daniel H Geschwind

doi:10.1038/nn.2207

The authors analyze gene coexpression relationships in microarray data generated from specific human regions. They identify modules of coexpressed genes that correspond to neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and microglia, demonstrating that cell type-specific information can be obtained from whole brain tissue without isolating homogenous populations of cells.

Abstract - | Full Text - Functional organization of the transcriptome in human brain | PDF (1,299 KB) - Functional organization of the transcriptome in human brain | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Mirnics

A central role for Islet1 in sensory neuron development linking sensory and spinal gene regulatory programs - pp1283 - 1293

Yunfu Sun, Iain M Dykes, Xingqun Liang, S Raisa Eng, Sylvia M Evans & Eric E Turner

doi:10.1038/nn.2209

Nearly all sensory neurons express the transcription factor Isl-1. Isl-1 is essential for the development of motoneurons, but its role in sensory neurons has been unknown. Using conditional knockout limited to neural crest derivatives, this study shows that Isl-1 is necessary for the survival of nociceptive and mechanoreceptive neurons during later embryogenesis.

Abstract - | Full Text - A central role for Islet1 in sensory neuron development linking sensory and spinal gene regulatory programs | PDF (1,107 KB) - A central role for Islet1 in sensory neuron development linking sensory and spinal gene regulatory programs | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Markus

Focal transplantation–based astrocyte replacement is neuroprotective in a model of motor neuron disease - pp1294 - 1301

Angelo C Lepore, Britta Rauck, Christine Dejea, Andrea C Pardo, Mahendra S Rao, Jeffrey D Rothstein & Nicholas J Maragakis

doi:10.1038/nn.2210

Recent work has suggested a role for astrocyte dysfunction in the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by mutations in superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Lepore et al. show here that transplantation of astrocyte-restricted progenitors in fact improves survival of rats expressing a human ALS-associated SOD1 allele. The rescue effect required the astrocytic glutamate transporter GLT1.

Abstract - | Full Text - Focal transplantation–based astrocyte replacement is neuroprotective in a model of motor neuron disease | PDF (709 KB) - Focal transplantation–based astrocyte replacement is neuroprotective in a model of motor neuron disease | Supplementary information

Palmitoylation-dependent neurodevelopmental deficits in a mouse model of 22q11 microdeletion - pp1302 - 1310

Jun Mukai, Alefiya Dhilla, Liam J Drew, Kimberly L Stark, Luxiang Cao, Amy B MacDermott, Maria Karayiorgou & Joseph A Gogos

doi:10.1038/nn.2204

Microdeletions of the chromosome locus 22q11.2 are linked to a variety of mental and neurological disorders in human, including schizophrenia. Using a mouse strain carrying a synthenic microdeletion, Mukai et al. show dendritic spine defects associated with the hemizygous loss of the 22q11.2 locus, which includes the gene responsible for neuronal protein palmitoylation.

Abstract - | Full Text - Palmitoylation-dependent neurodevelopmental deficits in a mouse model of 22q11 microdeletion | PDF (710 KB) - Palmitoylation-dependent neurodevelopmental deficits in a mouse model of 22q11 microdeletion | Supplementary information

Phospholipase A₂ reduction ameliorates cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease - pp1311 - 1318

Rene O Sanchez-Mejia, John W Newman, Sandy Toh, Gui-Qiu Yu, Yungui Zhou, Brian Halabisky, Moustapha Cissé, Kimberly Scearce-Levie, Irene H Cheng, Li Gan, Jorge J Palop, Joseph V Bonventre & Lennart Mucke

doi:10.1038/nn.2213

The contribution of fatty acids to Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis is unclear. The authors identify an increase in arachadonic acid and its metabolites in a mouse model for Alzheimer's disease and show that amyloid-beta (A) affects phosphorylation of an isoform of phospholipase A₂ (GIVA-PLA₂). Inhibiting activation of GIVA-PLA₂ protected against A-induced toxicity and prevented some A-induced deficits in learning and memory.

Abstract - | Full Text - Phospholipase A2 reduction ameliorates cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease | PDF (464 KB) - Phospholipase A2 reduction ameliorates cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease | Supplementary information

-catenin is required for memory consolidation - pp1319 - 1326

Kimberly A Maguschak & Kerry J Ressler

doi:10.1038/nn.2198

Structural changes in the dendrites are mediated in part by a cell adhesion molecule, -catenin, and are associated with memory formation and maintenance. A new study by Maguschak and Ressler shows that -catenin has a selective role in fear memory consolidation.

Abstract - | Full Text - -catenin is required for memory consolidation | PDF (609 KB) - -catenin is required for memory consolidation | Supplementary information

Forebrain steroid levels fluctuate rapidly during social interactions - pp1327 - 1334

Luke Remage-Healey, Nigel T Maidment & Barney A Schlinger

doi:10.1038/nn.2200

Using in vivo microdialysis in zebra finches, the authors show that forebrain steroid levels (estradiol and testosterone) are differentially regulated in a region-specific manner in response to various behavioral contexts. Moreover, the time course of this modulation is similar to that of traditional neuromodulators.

Abstract - | Full Text - Forebrain steroid levels fluctuate rapidly during social interactions | PDF (376 KB) - Forebrain steroid levels fluctuate rapidly during social interactions | Supplementary information

Fractional differentiation by neocortical pyramidal neurons - pp1335 - 1342

Brian N Lundstrom, Matthew H Higgs, William J Spain & Adrienne L Fairhall

doi:10.1038/nn.2212

Neural systems adapt to changes in stimulus statistics. The authors find that neocortical pyramidal neurons adapt with a time scale that depends on the time scale of changes in stimulus statistics, and that for individual neurons the firing is a fractional derivative of slowly varying stimulus parameters.

Abstract - | Full Text - Fractional differentiation by neocortical pyramidal neurons | PDF (488 KB) - Fractional differentiation by neocortical pyramidal neurons | Supplementary information

Origin of correlated activity between parasol retinal ganglion cells - pp1343 - 1351

Philipp Khuc Trong & Fred Rieke

doi:10.1038/nn.2199

Nearby retinal ganglion cells show correlated activity in the absence of visual stimuli and these correlations are propagated across the population. A combination of recordings and computational modeling suggest that shared synaptic input is the origin of this synchrony.

Abstract - | Full Text - Origin of correlated activity between parasol retinal ganglion cells | PDF (2,289 KB) - Origin of correlated activity between parasol retinal ganglion cells | Supplementary information

A neural code for three-dimensional object shape in macaque inferotemporal cortex - pp1352 - 1360

Yukako Yamane, Eric T Carlson, Katherine C Bowman, Zhihong Wang & Charles E Connor

doi:10.1038/nn.2202

The role of inferotemporal cortex in coding two-dimensional patterns has been extensively studied, but the more difficult problem of three-dimensional shape representation has been relatively unexplored. Yamane and colleagues use new techniques for adaptive stimulus presentation and response modeling to extensively characterize neural coding for three-dimensional objects.

Abstract - | Full Text - A neural code for three-dimensional object shape in macaque inferotemporal cortex | PDF (970 KB) - A neural code for three-dimensional object shape in macaque inferotemporal cortex | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Mazer