Table of contents
January 2006 Vol 7 No 1
From the editors
p1 | doi:10.1038/nrn1830
Research Highlights
Neurogenetics: Undoing epigenetics
p3 | doi:10.1038/nrn1832
Development: Mapping eye development
p4 | doi:10.1038/nrn1833
In the news
Mirror image
p4 | doi:10.1038/nrn1836
Neurochemistry: NO typical messenger
p4 | doi:10.1038/nrn1842
Neurodegenerative disorders: A neuroprotective role for 
-synuclein
p5 | doi:10.1038/nrn1834
Synaptic physiology: A barrier to diffusion
p6 | doi:10.1038/nrn1831
Neurogenetics: Fear not
p6 | doi:10.1038/nrn1838
Axon guidance: The turning point
p7 | doi:10.1038/nrn1837
Synaptic physiology: Closing the gap
p8 | doi:10.1038/nrn1839
Addiction: Targeting neural correlates of addiction
p8 | doi:10.1038/nrn1840
Sensory systems: Sniffing out neural processing
p8 | doi:10.1038/nrn1841
News in Brief
Neurological disorders | Cell biology of the neuron | Glia | Cognitive neuroscience
p9 | doi:10.1038/nrn1835
Reviews
Oligodendrocyte wars
William D. Richardson, Nicoletta Kessaris & Nigel Pringle
p11 | doi:10.1038/nrn1826
The developmental origin of oligodendrocytes has been a contentious issue for years. Richardson and colleagues review the complexity of the debate, and show that oligodendrocyte development results from competition among precursors from dorsal and ventral parts of the ventricular zone.
The sensory and motor roles of auditory hair cells
Robert Fettiplace & Carole M. Hackney
p19 | doi:10.1038/nrn1828
Cochlear hair cells detect sound vibrations and generate force to enhance auditory sensitivity and frequency selectivity. Fettiplace and Hackney describe proteins involved in the sensory and motor functions of outer hair cells, presenting evidence for two types of force production.
Neural plasticity in the ageing brain
Sara N. Burke & Carol A. Barnes
p30 | doi:10.1038/nrn1809
A decline in learning, memory and executive functions frequently occurs with advanced age. Barnes and Burke evaluate recent progress in our understanding of subtle changes affecting plasticity in medial temporal and prefrontal regions that contribute to age-related cognitive decline.
Astrocyte–endothelial interactions at the blood–brain barrier
N. Joan Abbott, Lars Rönnbäck & Elisabeth Hansson
p41 | doi:10.1038/nrn1824
Abbott, Rönnbäck and Hansson describe interactions between brain endothelial cells, astrocytes and neurons that regulate blood–brain barrier function, and consider how disturbances of these interactions could be minimized or prevented in various pathological conditions.
Cognitive neuroscience of emotional memory
Kevin S LaBar & Roberto Cabeza
p54 | doi:10.1038/nrn1825
LaBar and Cabeza review the powerful effects of emotion on memory. These influences are mediated by the amygdala and its interactions with medial temporal and prefrontal regions, and affect memory from the encoding and consolidation stages through to long-term retrieval.
Neuroscience nanotechnology: progress, opportunities and challenges
Gabriel A. Silva
p65 | doi:10.1038/nrn1827
Nanotechnology holds great promises in all scientific disciplines. Silva discusses the basic concepts of nanotechnology, its current applications in basic and clinical neuroscience, and the conceptual and technical challenges it faces in tackling the complexities of the nervous system.
Perspective
Opinion
Gene therapy: can neural stem cells deliver?
Franz-Josef Müller, Evan Y. Snyder & Jeanne F. Loring
p75 | doi:10.1038/nrn1829
There has been considerable speculation about the possibilities of exploiting neural stem cells as delivery vehicles in gene therapy. Müller, Snyder and Loring discuss the potential applications of this approach and obstacles to the clinical development of such strategies.