News & Views |
Featured
-
-
-
Article |
Two-photon calcium imaging from head-fixed Drosophila during optomotor walking behavior
This technique allows functional imaging of neurons in head-fixed Drosophila while the fly walks on an air-supported ball. Using a genetically encoded calcium sensor, the activity of motion-sensitive neurons in the fly optic lobe was recorded while the flies were presented with visual stimuli. Activity in these cells correlated with robust optomotor behavior in the walking flies.
- Johannes D Seelig
- , M Eugenia Chiappe
- & Vivek Jayaraman
-
News & Views |
Do mice have a pain face?
Assessing changes in facial expression may enable us to assess pain in animals more accurately and more effectively.
- Paul A Flecknell
-
This Month |
Jeffrey Mogil
Putting a face on pain in mice should improve our ability to measure it.
- Monya Baker
-
Article |
Enhanced neuronal RNAi in C. elegans using SID-1
Expression of the transporter SID-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans neurons renders the cells sensitive to systemic RNAi and permits previously unidentified neuronal phenotypes to be uncovered. This expression also reduces RNAi in nonneuronal cell types, allowing examination of neuronal functions of lethal genes.
- Andrea Calixto
- , Dattananda Chelur
- & Martin Chalfie
-
Brief Communication |
Coding of facial expressions of pain in the laboratory mouse
The mouse grimace scale offers a standardized behavioral coding system to study the subjective pain experience in mice.
- Dale J Langford
- , Andrea L Bailey
- & Jeffrey S Mogil
-
Research Highlights |
Neurons light the way
Monitoring the activity of neurons in vivo in the freely behaving zebrafish larvae is now possible using bioluminescence, an approach with great potential for unveiling how neuronal networks control behavior.
- Erika Pastrana
-
Article |
High-speed in vivo calcium imaging reveals neuronal network activity with near-millisecond precision
Limitations in scanning speed have made it difficult for two-photon imaging to provide accurate temporal information on neuronal signaling. Refinements to random-access scanning using acousto-optic deflectors and an automated algorithm for reconstructing complex spike trains allowed in vivo high-speed optical recording of spiking activity in neuronal populations in the mouse neocortex.
- Benjamin F Grewe
- , Dominik Langer
- & Fritjof Helmchen
-
Research Highlights |
New tools to enlighten brain function
The pioneers of the first generation of widely used optogenetic tools now describe new variants that open further possibilities for studying neural function.
- Erika Pastrana
-
Article |
Computational prediction of neural progenitor cell fates
The fates of cultured neural progenitor cells can be predicted by algorithmic information theory-based computational analysis of time-lapse images of the cells.
- Andrew R Cohen
- , Francisco L A F Gomes
- & Michel Cayouette
-
Article |
Silencing neurotransmission with membrane-tethered toxins
The use of membrane-tethered toxins to selectively block ion channel function in vivo is demonstrated. The approach is applied to blockade of voltage-gated calcium channels for inhibition of neurotransmission in the mouse.
- Sebastian Auer
- , Annika S Stürzebecher
- & Inés Ibañez-Tallon
-
News & Views |
Advancing neurochemical monitoring
Two new approaches to neurochemical monitoring in vivo—an improved real-time microsensor and genetically engineered cells that sense neurotransmitter levels—address the critical issue of brain reactivity to implanted devices.
- Paul A Garris
-
Brief Communication |
In-cell recordings by extracellular microelectrodes
Conventional extracellular electrode recordings are generally limited to monitoring action potentials. But use of extracellular gold microelectrodes with microspines that are engulfed by a neuron generates efficient electrical coupling and allows detection of both action potentials and subthreshold synaptic potentials with a signal-to-noise ratio similar to that of conventional intracellular recordings.
- Aviad Hai
- , Joseph Shappir
- & Micha E Spira
-
Research Highlights |
The mobile microscope
A miniature head-mounted two-photon microscope small enough for a rat to carry allows researchers to visualize neuronal signaling while the animal freely interacts with its environment.
- Daniel Evanko
Browse broader subjects
Browse narrower subjects
- Auditory system
- Blood–brain barrier
- Cell death in the nervous system
- Cellular neuroscience
- Circadian rhythms and sleep
- Cognitive ageing
- Cognitive neuroscience
- Computational neuroscience
- Development of the nervous system
- Diseases of the nervous system
- Emotion
- Epigenetics in the nervous system
- Feeding behaviour
- Genetics of the nervous system
- Glial biology
- Gliogenesis
- Gustatory system
- Ion channels in the nervous system
- Learning and memory
- Molecular neuroscience
- Motivation
- Motor control
- Myelin biology and repair
- Neural ageing
- Neural circuits
- Neuro–vascular interactions
- Neurogenesis
- Neuroimmunology
- Neuronal physiology
- Neurotrophic factors
- Oculomotor system
- Olfactory system
- Peripheral nervous system
- Regeneration and repair in the nervous system
- Reward
- Sensorimotor processing
- Sensory processing
- Sexual behaviour
- Social behaviour
- Social neuroscience
- Somatosensory system
- Spine regulation and structure
- Stem cells in the nervous system
- Stress and resilience
- Synaptic plasticity
- Synaptic transmission
- Transporters in the nervous system
- Visual system