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Neuroscientists dedicate themselves to understanding the brain. But what happens when they disagree on experimental outcomes, data interpretation or methodology? Nature Neuroscience debuts a format that invites researchers to debate critical issues in neuroscience.
The ventromedial prefrontal cortex is attributed with various functions during valuation, affect regulation and social cognition. Nature Neuroscience asked a moderator to lead researchers in a dialogue on shared and distinct viewpoints of this region's roles.
Recent technological advancements in the study of neural circuits provide reasons to be optimistic that novel treatments for psychiatric illnesses are just around the corner. Maximizing the chances of translating these advancements into real improvements in patient care requires a carefully considered road map.
Refined social phenotyping of syndromic and idiopathic forms of autism, combined with advances in genetics, animal models of syndromes and brain imaging, may facilitate discovery of shared brain mechanisms that will lead to new treatments. The reversal of social deficits in animal models is promising for eventual translation into therapeutics.
An obsession with producing and validating models (face, construct, predictive validity) has led many of us down a deep rabbit hole, thinking about models instead of mechanisms. Advances in the human genetics and neurobiology of brain disorders create exciting new opportunities, but only if we can get back to basics.
The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium is aiming to analyze data from >1 million individuals. This is already leading to hundreds of new genetic findings across psychiatric disorders with the potential to restart largely stalled psychiatric drug development pipelines. This paper outlines key questions and plans to translate findings into new therapeutics.
Primatology research suggests that other primates suffer from crippling depression or anxiety, implying that these diseases' roots pre-date human history. At the same time, some realms of psychiatry remain uniquely human. Recognizing the similarities and dissimilarities between us and other primates is essential in studying animal models of psychiatric disease.
We present a special issue on the neuroscience toolbox, highlighting recent technological advances, approaches and collaborative initiatives that are enabling new avenues of research.
To highlight worldwide efforts to fund neuroscience research and address the growing threat of brain disorders, Nature Neuroscience asked leaders of six global brain initiatives to write about their programs.
We present a special issue focusing on recent advances in computation- and theory-driven approaches to neuroscience that inform a host of biophysical and mechanistic models.
Theoretical approaches have long shaped neuroscience, but current needs for theory are elevated and prospects for advancement are bright. Advances in measuring and manipulating neurons demand new models and analyses to guide interpretation. Advances in theoretical neuroscience offer new insights into how signals evolve across areas and new approaches for connecting population activity with behavior. These advances point to a global understanding of brain function based on a hybrid of diverse approaches.
