The ethical neuroscientist - p239

doi:10.1038/nn0308-239

The increase in research carried out by private companies raises concerns about ethical standards for human subjects.

Full Text - The ethical neuroscientist | PDF (123 KB) - The ethical neuroscientist

Why soccer players are smarter than scientists - p241

Vincent Walsh reviews The Body Has a Mind of Its Own: How Body Maps in Your Brain Help You Do (Almost) Everything Better by Sandra Blakeslee & Matthew Blakeslee

doi:10.1038/nn0308-241

Full Text - Why soccer players are smarter than scientists | PDF (89 KB) - Why soccer players are smarter than scientists

Calcium: first messenger - pp243 - 244

Nicholas C Spitzer

doi:10.1038/nn0308-243

Calcium is a ubiquitous second messenger in the nervous system linking extracellular and intracellular events. Now a study identifies it as a primary messenger controlling axon and dendrite outgrowth during development via activation of extracellular calcium-sensing receptors, better known in the liver and thyroid than in the brain.

Full Text - Calcium: first messenger | PDF (359 KB) - Calcium: first messenger

See also: Article by Vizard et al.

-catenin in reverse action - pp244 - 246

Amy K Y Fu, Zelda H Cheung & Nancy Y Ip

doi:10.1038/nn0308-244

Motor neurons and muscle fibers interact in complex ways to build the neuromuscular synapse. A new study shows that -catenin is required in muscle to provide an unknown retrograde signal that is necessary for presynaptic transmitter release.

Full Text - -catenin in reverse action | PDF (240 KB) - -catenin in reverse action

See also: Article by Li et al.

A commanding control of behavior - pp246 - 248

Vatsala Thirumalai & Hollis T Cline

doi:10.1038/nn0308-246

Descending projection neurons to the spinal cord carry important information for movement initiation and control. A new study shows that relatively few projection neurons may be needed to generate certain visually guided movements.

Full Text - A commanding control of behavior | PDF (162 KB) - A commanding control of behavior

See also: Article by Orger et al.

Malleable templates: reshaping our crystallized skills to create new outcomes - pp248 - 249

Scott T Grafton

doi:10.1038/nn0308-248

Even well-practiced skills show trial-by-trial variations. A study in Nature suggests that such variability may be adaptive, allowing for plasticity in apparently crystallized skills, which should therefore be considered more like templates.

Full Text - Malleable templates: reshaping our crystallized skills to create new outcomes | PDF (151 KB) - Malleable templates: reshaping our crystallized skills to create new outcomes

Astrocytes as determinants of disease progression in inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - pp251 - 253

Koji Yamanaka, Seung Joo Chun, Severine Boillee, Noriko Fujimori-Tonou, Hirofumi Yamashita, David H Gutmann, Ryosuke Takahashi, Hidemi Misawa & Don W Cleveland

doi:10.1038/nn2047

Abstract - | Full Text - Astrocytes as determinants of disease progression in inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | PDF (377 KB) - Astrocytes as determinants of disease progression in inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | Supplementary information

A single N-terminal cysteine in TRPV1 determines activation by pungent compounds from onion and garlic - pp255 - 261

Héctor Salazar, Itzel Llorente, Andrés Jara-Oseguera, Refugio García-Villegas, Mika Munari, Sharona E Gordon, León D Islas & Tamara Rosenbaum

doi:10.1038/nn2056

Abstract - | Full Text - A single N-terminal cysteine in TRPV1 determines activation by pungent compounds from onion and garlic | PDF (789 KB) - A single N-terminal cysteine in TRPV1 determines activation by pungent compounds from onion and garlic | Supplementary information

Retrograde regulation of motoneuron differentiation by muscle -catenin - pp262 - 268

Xiao-Ming Li, Xian-Ping Dong, Shi-Wen Luo, Bin Zhang, Dae-Hoon Lee, Annie K L Ting, Hannah Neiswender, Chang-Hoon Kim, Ezekiel Carpenter-Hyland, Tian-Ming Gao, Wen-Cheng Xiong & Lin Mei

doi:10.1038/nn2053

Abstract - | Full Text - Retrograde regulation of motoneuron differentiation by muscle -catenin | PDF (598 KB) - Retrograde regulation of motoneuron differentiation by muscle -catenin | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Fu et al.

Robo2-Slit1 dependent cell-cell interactions mediate assembly of the trigeminal ganglion - pp269 - 276

Celia E Shiau, Peter Y Lwigale, Raman M Das, Stuart A Wilson & Marianne Bronner-Fraser

doi:10.1038/nn2051

Abstract - | Full Text - Robo2-Slit1 dependent cell-cell interactions mediate assembly of the trigeminal ganglion | PDF (834 KB) - Robo2-Slit1 dependent cell-cell interactions mediate assembly of the trigeminal ganglion | Supplementary information

Hedgehog signaling and primary cilia are required for the formation of adult neural stem cells - pp277 - 284

Young-Goo Han, Nathalie Spassky, Miriam Romaguera-Ros, Jose-Manuel Garcia-Verdugo, Andrea Aguilar, Sylvie Schneider-Maunoury & Arturo Alvarez-Buylla

doi:10.1038/nn2059

Abstract - | Full Text - Hedgehog signaling and primary cilia are required for the formation of adult neural stem cells | PDF (1,310 KB) - Hedgehog signaling and primary cilia are required for the formation of adult neural stem cells | Supplementary information

Regulation of axonal and dendritic growth by the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor - pp285 - 291

Thomas N Vizard, Gerard W O'Keeffe, Humberto Gutierrez, Claudine H Kos, Daniela Riccardi & Alun M Davies

doi:10.1038/nn2044

Abstract - | Full Text - Regulation of axonal and dendritic growth by the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor | PDF (381 KB) - Regulation of axonal and dendritic growth by the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Spitzer

The vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT3 synergizes striatal acetylcholine tone - pp292 - 300

Christelle Gras, Bénédicte Amilhon, Ève M Lepicard, Odile Poirel, Jacqueline Vinatier, Marc Herbin, Sylvie Dumas, Eleni T Tzavara, Mark R Wade, George G Nomikos, Naïma Hanoun, Françoise Saurini, Marie-Louise Kemel, Bruno Gasnier, Bruno Giros & Salah El Mestikawy

doi:10.1038/nn2052

Abstract - | Full Text - The vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT3 synergizes striatal acetylcholine tone | PDF (319 KB) - The vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT3 synergizes striatal acetylcholine tone | Supplementary information

A molecular pathway of neurodegeneration linking -synuclein to ApoE and A peptides - pp301 - 308

Gilbert Gallardo, Oliver M Schlüter & Thomas C Südhof

doi:10.1038/nn2058

Abstract - | Full Text - A molecular pathway of neurodegeneration linking -synuclein to ApoE and A peptides | PDF (654 KB) - A molecular pathway of neurodegeneration linking -synuclein to ApoE and A peptides | Supplementary information

Diabetes impairs hippocampal function through glucocorticoid-mediated effects on new and mature neurons - pp309 - 317

Alexis M Stranahan, Thiruma V Arumugam, Roy G Cutler, Kim Lee, Josephine M Egan & Mark P Mattson

doi:10.1038/nn2055

Abstract - | Full Text - Diabetes impairs hippocampal function through glucocorticoid-mediated effects on new and mature neurons | PDF (652 KB) - Diabetes impairs hippocampal function through glucocorticoid-mediated effects on new and mature neurons | Supplementary information

Signals and noise in an inhibitory interneuron diverge to control activity in nearby retinal ganglion cells - pp318 - 326

Gabe J Murphy & Fred Rieke

doi:10.1038/nn2045

Abstract - | Full Text - Signals and noise in an inhibitory interneuron diverge to control activity in nearby retinal ganglion cells | PDF (2,829 KB) - Signals and noise in an inhibitory interneuron diverge to control activity in nearby retinal ganglion cells | Supplementary information

Control of visually guided behavior by distinct populations of spinal projection neurons - pp327 - 333

Michael B Orger, Adam R Kampff, Kristen E Severi, Johann H Bollmann & Florian Engert

doi:10.1038/nn2048

Abstract - | Full Text - Control of visually guided behavior by distinct populations of spinal projection neurons | PDF (714 KB) - Control of visually guided behavior by distinct populations of spinal projection neurons | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Thirumalai & Cline

Activation of estrogen receptor- regulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity and improves memory - pp334 - 343

Feng Liu, Mark Day, Luis C Muñiz, Daniel Bitran, Robert Arias, Raquel Revilla-Sanchez, Steve Grauer, Guoming Zhang, Cody Kelley, Virginia Pulito, Amy Sung, Ronald F Mervis, Rachel Navarra, Warren D Hirst, Peter H Reinhart, Karen L Marquis, Stephen J Moss, Menelas N Pangalos & Nicholas J Brandon

doi:10.1038/nn2057

Abstract - | Full Text - Activation of estrogen receptor- regulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity and improves memory | PDF (435 KB) - Activation of estrogen receptor- regulates hippocampal synaptic plasticity and improves memory | Supplementary information

CaMKII: a biochemical bridge linking accumbens dopamine and glutamate systems in cocaine seeking - pp344 - 353

Sharon M Anderson, Katie R Famous, Ghazaleh Sadri-Vakili, Vidhya Kumaresan, Heath D Schmidt, Caroline E Bass, Ernest F Terwilliger, Jang-Ho J Cha & R Christopher Pierce

doi:10.1038/nn2054

Abstract - | Full Text - CaMKII: a biochemical bridge linking accumbens dopamine and glutamate systems in cocaine seeking | PDF (302 KB) - CaMKII: a biochemical bridge linking accumbens dopamine and glutamate systems in cocaine seeking | Supplementary information

Modulation of GABA_A receptor desensitization uncouples sleep onset and maintenance in Drosophila - pp354 - 359

Jose Agosto, James C Choi, Katherine M Parisky, Geoffrey Stilwell, Michael Rosbash & Leslie C Griffith

doi:10.1038/nn2046

Abstract - | Full Text - Modulation of GABAA receptor desensitization uncouples sleep onset and maintenance in Drosophila | PDF (309 KB) - Modulation of GABAA receptor desensitization uncouples sleep onset and maintenance in Drosophila | Supplementary information

Top-down laminar organization of the excitatory network in motor cortex - pp360 - 366

Nicholas Weiler, Lydia Wood, Jianing Yu, Sara A Solla & Gordon M G Shepherd

doi:10.1038/nn2049

Abstract - | Full Text - Top-down laminar organization of the excitatory network in motor cortex | PDF (332 KB) - Top-down laminar organization of the excitatory network in motor cortex | Supplementary information

A voice region in the monkey brain - pp367 - 374

Christopher I Petkov, Christoph Kayser, Thomas Steudel, Kevin Whittingstall, Mark Augath & Nikos K Logothetis

doi:10.1038/nn2043

Abstract - | Full Text - A voice region in the monkey brain | PDF (397 KB) - A voice region in the monkey brain | Supplementary information