Volume 12 Issue 9, September 2011

An elevation in the excitation/inhibition ratio in the medial prefrontal cortex leads to impairments in social behaviour and cognition in mice.

Schema-dependent memory formation involves parallel encoding in the hippocampus and in the neocortex.

Death receptor 6 negatively regulates the survival and maturation of oligodendrocytes and limits remyelination.

Loss of delta-like homologue 1 (Dlk1) imprinting in the subventricular zone regulates postnatal neurogenesis.

A multisynaptic pathway from the hippocampal CA3 via the lateral septum to the ventral tegmental area links spatial context to reward.

A new study reveals the physiological basis of age-related memory decline and potential means to restore it.

During the synaptic maturation and elimination phase of hippocampal development, microglia may engulf unwanted synapses, and thus contribute to correct circuit maturation.

Reducing adult neurogenesis induces depression-like behaviour under stressful conditions.

A novel function for CaMKIIβ has been identified in the mammalian brain whereby it regulates dendritic patterning through phosphorylation of CDC20–APC/C at the centrosome.

There is currently no effective treatment for glioma, the most common type of brain tumour. Recent technological advances have made it possible to gain a more detailed understanding of the molecular processes underlying tumour cell differentiation and the findings suggest new opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Harris and Thiele review studies of state-dependent cortical processing in rodents and of attention in the primate visual system, and show that the two processes have many similarities. They propose that selective attention involves a process similar to state change, operating at a local level to enhance the representation of otherwise subtle stimuli, while suppressing internally generated activity patterns.

Animal studies have shown that oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are crucial regulators of social behaviour. In this Review, Meyer-Lindenberg and colleagues consider behavioural, genetic and neuroimaging studies that show that these peptides also influence social behaviour and cognition in humans, and suggest that the OXT and AVP systems could be targets for the treatment of mental disorders characterized by social dysfunction.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating illness that affects many people. The aetiology and pathophysiology of CFS remain poorly understood, and few treatments are available.Nature Reviews Neuroscienceasked four scientists involved in CFS research about their views on the condition and the future of research — including the role of neuroscience — aimed at improving our understanding of this chronic illness.