Advance online publication
The latest research papers, published online ahead of print. These online versions are definitive and may be cited using the digital object identifier (DOI).
About advance online publicationBrief Communications
Pubertal hormones modulate the addition of new cells to sexually dimorphic brain regions
Eman I Ahmed, Julia L Zehr, Kalynn M Schulz, Betty H Lorenz, Lydia L DonCarlos & Cheryl L Sisk
Published online: 17 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2178
Structural sexual dimorphism in the developing nervous system can lead to functional differences in physiology and behavior. Postnatal, gender-based differences in cell number were presumed to be passively maintained, but here, Ahmed et al. reveal an active mechanism modulated by sex hormones that maintains different numbers of cells in sexually dimorphic brain areas.
Abstract - | Full Text - Pubertal hormones modulate the addition of new cells to sexually dimorphic brain regions | PDF (263 KB) - Pubertal hormones modulate the addition of new cells to sexually dimorphic brain regions | Supplementary information
Serotonergic transcriptional programming determines maternal behavior and offspring survival
Jessica K Lerch-Haner, Dargan Frierson, LaTasha K Crawford, Sheryl G Beck & Evan S Deneris
Published online: 17 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2176
The central serotonergic system is an important modulator of neural circuitry that regulates behavior and emotion state of an animal. Current study from Lerch-Haner et al. shows that mutant female mice with defective serotonergic neurons exhibit gross maternal neglect resulting in offspring death, and that this defect can be rescued by expression of a homologous gene from human.
Abstract - | Full Text - Serotonergic transcriptional programming determines maternal behavior and offspring survival | PDF (178 KB) - Serotonergic transcriptional programming determines maternal behavior and offspring survival | Supplementary information
Synaptic release of GABA by AgRP neurons is required for normal regulation of energy balance
Qingchun Tong, Chian-Ping Ye, Juli E Jones, Joel K Elmquist & Bradford B Lowell
Published online: 10 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2167
Neurons expressing Agouti-related protein (AgRP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the hypothalamus are involved in regulation of feeding and body weight, but genetic disruption of AgRP and NPY have little effect on energy homeostasis. A new study from Tong et al. shows that the energy homeostasis function is mediated through their GABAergic transmission.
Abstract - | Full Text - Synaptic release of GABA by AgRP neurons is required for normal regulation of energy balance | PDF (198 KB) - Synaptic release of GABA by AgRP neurons is required for normal regulation of energy balance | Supplementary information
Neural repetition suppression reflects fulfilled perceptual expectations
Christopher Summerfield, Emily H Trittschuh, Jim M Monti, M-Marsel Mesulam & Tobias Egner
Published online: 01 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2163
Repetition suppression, the reduction in neural activity with repeated stimuli, is usually thought to be a result of automatic sensory processes. This study instead finds that this reduction results from high stimulus predictability, a more 'top-down' process.
Abstract - | Full Text - Neural repetition suppression reflects fulfilled perceptual expectations | PDF (196 KB) - Neural repetition suppression reflects fulfilled perceptual expectations | Supplementary information
Articles
The acute light-induction of sleep is mediated by OPN4-based photoreception
Daniela Lupi, Henrik Oster, Stewart Thompson & Russell G Foster
Published online: 17 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2179
Ambient light can acutely modulate sleep and can be detected by the retina independently of photoreceptors. A new study from Foster and colleagues shows that photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, with their activation of sleep-promoting centers, mediate this irradiance-dependent sleep induction.
Abstract - | Full Text - The acute light-induction of sleep is mediated by OPN4-based photoreception | PDF (469 KB) - The acute light-induction of sleep is mediated by OPN4-based photoreception | Supplementary information
Action anticipation and motor resonance in elite basketball players
Salvatore M Aglioti, Paola Cesari, Michela Romani & Cosimo Urgesi
Published online: 10 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2182
Using a combination of behavioral measures and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), this study finds that elite basketball players are better at predicting whether a free basketball throw will land in the basket or out and that they also have higher TMS-evoked motor potentials for when the ball misses its mark.
Abstract - | Full Text - Action anticipation and motor resonance in elite basketball players | PDF (555 KB) - Action anticipation and motor resonance in elite basketball players | Supplementary information
Circadian oscillation of hippocampal MAPK activity and cAMP: implications for memory persistence
Kristin L Eckel-Mahan, Trongha Phan, Sung Han, Hongbing Wang, Guy C-K Chan, Zachary S Scheiner & Daniel R Storm
Published online: 10 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2174
Several signaling pathways have been previously implicated in memory persistence, but new data suggests that circadian oscillations of cAMP production and protein phosphorylation in the hippocampus are important for the reactivation of a transcriptional pathway and memory consolidation.
Abstract - | Full Text - Circadian oscillation of hippocampal MAPK activity and cAMP: implications for memory persistence | PDF (384 KB) - Circadian oscillation of hippocampal MAPK activity and cAMP: implications for memory persistence | Supplementary information
Serine phosphorylation of ephrinB2 regulates trafficking of synaptic AMPA receptors
Clara L Essmann, Elsa Martinez, Julia C Geiger, Manuel Zimmer, Matthias H Traut, Valentin Stein, Rüdiger Klein & Amparo Acker-Palmer
Published online: 10 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2171
The shuttling of AMPA receptors to and from the synaptic membrane determines the strength of synaptic transmission. This study shows that ephrinB2 is part of the mechanism that stabilizes AMPA receptors at the synaptic surface. EphrinB2 and AMPA receptors are linked by two PDZ domains in the intracellular adaptor protein GRIP.
Abstract - | Full Text - Serine phosphorylation of ephrinB2 regulates trafficking of synaptic AMPA receptors | PDF (852 KB) - Serine phosphorylation of ephrinB2 regulates trafficking of synaptic AMPA receptors | Supplementary information
Pore region of TRPV3 ion channel is specifically required for heat activation
Jörg Grandl, Hongzhen Hu, Michael Bandell, Badry Bursulaya, Manuela Schmidt, Matt Petrus & Ardem Patapoutian
Published online: 10 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2169
Although certain ion channels can be gated by temperature, it is currently unknown how this occurs. Here, the authors identify regions of TRPV3 that are critical for heat sensation, yet independent of other channel gating mechanisms.
Abstract - | Full Text - Pore region of TRPV3 ion channel is specifically required for heat activation | PDF (694 KB) - Pore region of TRPV3 ion channel is specifically required for heat activation | Supplementary information
Emergence of binocular functional properties in a monocular neural circuit
Pavan Ramdya & Florian Engert
Published online: 10 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2166
To better understand the development of the binocular circuit and the nature of visual information processing, Ramdya and Engert examine the neuronal activity of zebrafish optic tectum when it was rewired to receive inputs from both eyes.
Abstract - | Full Text - Emergence of binocular functional properties in a monocular neural circuit | PDF (531 KB) - Emergence of binocular functional properties in a monocular neural circuit | Supplementary information
Psychophysical and neurometric detection performance under stimulus uncertainty
Maik C Stüttgen & Cornelius Schwarz
Published online: 01 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2162
The response of some cortical neurons seems to exceed psychophysical sensitivity. Recording in rat barrel cortex, this study finds that neuronal sensitivity is degraded under more life-like conditions of stimulus uncertainity. However, pooled spike-timing information from the most sensitive neurons still correlates with subjects' psychophysical sensitivity.
Abstract - | Full Text - Psychophysical and neurometric detection performance under stimulus uncertainty | PDF (535 KB) - Psychophysical and neurometric detection performance under stimulus uncertainty
Prefrontal cortex AMPA receptor plasticity is crucial for cue-induced relapse to heroin-seeking
Michel C Van den Oever, Natalia A Goriounova, Ka Wan Li, Roel C Van der Schors, Rob Binnekade, Anton N M Schoffelmeer, Huibert D Mansvelder, August B Smit, Sabine Spijker & Taco J De Vries
Published online: 01 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2165
This study demonstrates that relapse in heroin-addicted rats requires endocytosis of the AMPA receptor subunit GluR2 in the medial prefrontal cortex. When endocytosis was inhibited in this specific brain structure, the addicted, but abstinent, rats were less intent on seeking heroin when re-exposed to drug-associated cues.
Abstract - | Full Text - Prefrontal cortex AMPA receptor plasticity is crucial for cue-induced relapse to heroin-seeking | PDF (288 KB) - Prefrontal cortex AMPA receptor plasticity is crucial for cue-induced relapse to heroin-seeking | Supplementary information
A subset of octopaminergic neurons are important for Drosophila aggression
Chuan Zhou, Yong Rao & Yi Rao
Published online: 01 August 2008; | doi:10.1038/nn.2164
Invertebrates engage in complex aggressive behaviors that involve several neurotransmitters. The circuitry that regulates aggression is unknown. Zhou et al. show here that aggression in male fruit flies correlates with levels of octopamine and that a small group of octopaminergic neurons in the subesophageal is crucial for aggressive behaviors.
Abstract - | Full Text - A subset of octopaminergic neurons are important for Drosophila aggression | PDF (378 KB) - A subset of octopaminergic neurons are important for Drosophila aggression | Supplementary information
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