Jorfi et al. developed a three-dimensional human neuroimmune axis model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The authors demonstrated an increase in T cell infiltration into AD cultures, which led to microglial activation and exacerbation of neurodegeneration.

Spontaneous population activity bursts promote the development of brain circuits. This study shows that single GABAergic hub neurons exert a strong influence on spontaneous and sensory-evoked population bursts in the mouse barrel cortex.

The authors reveal how the perception of optogenetic stimulation depends on the variability of background neural activity.

The authors used precision functional imaging and computational modeling to uncover the structure of perceptual odor coding in the human brain. Olfactory areas differ in the granularity, dimensionality and subjectivity of perceptual coding.

The sleep drive builds with time spent awake. Tossell et al. show in mice that tiredness triggers neurons in the prefrontal cortex to instruct the hypothalamus to initiate nesting and then sleep itself, ensuring that sleep occurs in a safe place.

Hong et al. show that activation of the medial prefrontal cortex induces REM sleep via its projections to the lateral hypothalamus, thus demonstrating a critical role of the cortex in the regulation of REM sleep.

Release of glutamate at high frequency involves a distinct subset of synaptic vesicles made by adaptor protein AP-3. Sorting of the phospholipid flippase ATP8A1 by AP-3 confers release at high frequency by recruiting synapsin to synaptic vesicles.

Su et al. show that loss of GluN2A in adult mice is sufficient to elicit antidepressant-like responses without evoking psychomimetic effects, and that GluN2A is necessary for ketamine and MK-801 to induce rapid antidepressant-like effects.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions are initiated by the infiltration of T cells to the CNS. Here, Kendirli et al. use a genome-wide CRISPR screen in an MS model to define the molecules that regulate T cell entry to the CNS.

Calcium dynamics and their role in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are unclear. In this study, the authors show that calcium dynamics at the processes of OPCs are modulated by norepinephrine and influence OPC proliferation during arousal in awake adult mice.

As Nature Neuroscience celebrates its 25th anniversary, we are having conversations with both established leaders in the field and those earlier in their careers to discuss how neuroscience has evolved and where it is heading. This month, we are talking to Theanne Griffith, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology at the University of California, Davis. We spoke about how she discovered her passion for biophysics and her work as an author of children’s books about science.

As Nature Neuroscience celebrates its 25th anniversary, we are having conversations with both established leaders in the field and those earlier in their careers to discuss how the field has evolved and where it is heading. This month we are talking to Freda Miller, Deputy Director and Professor of Developmental Neurobiology at University of British Columbia. She is known for her work on neuronal and mesenchymal stem and precursor cells and how they can promote tissue repair and regeneration. Here we talk about science and how to make your mark.

As Nature Neuroscience celebrates its 25th anniversary, we are having conversations with both established leaders in the field and those earlier in their careers to discuss how neuroscience has evolved, and where it is heading. This month, we are talking to Marguerite Matthews, Program Director at the Office of Programs to Enhance Neuroscience Workforce Diversity at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in the US. We spoke about how she transitioned from neuroscience research into a public service career, her work to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, and how each of us can champion these causes in our communities.