Research Highlights in 2010

New neurons control, through Slit-Robo signalling, the organization of the glial tubes through which they migrate in the RMS.

Signalling by metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 counteracts neuroinflammation in a rodent model of multiple sclerosis.

Genomic imprinting is widespread in the mouse brain and shows sexual dimorphism.

Expression of an exogenous rhodopsin can restore visual function after retinal degeneration in mice.

Dependent on the phosphorylation state of CaMKII at T305/T306 long-term potentiation or long-term depression is induced.

Constitutive 5-HT_2Creceptor signalling is involved in both recovery and spasticity following spinal cord injury.

Directional cells, place cells and grid cells mature at a different rate during development.

Carbohydrate preferences are determined by glucose oxidation levels rather than by the sweetness or the caloric value of a nutrient.

Modulation of the balance between excitatory and inhibitory inputs underlies the organization of auditory receptive fields during development

The chemokine CXCL12 regulates remyelination in two animal models of demyelination

MicroRNAs in neurons are produced and degraded rapidly, unlike microRNAs in non-neuronal cells.

Resilience to stress in mice is mediated by expression of the transcription factor ΔFosB and its target genes in the nucleus accumbens.

An unexpected and crucial role for caspase 3 and caspase 9 in synaptic depression has been identified.

Sensory afferent signals in visual cortical neurons are highly tuned to stimulus characteristics at the level of local Ca²⁺transients throughout the dendritic tree.

The size of the active zone determines the probability of synaptic release and can undergo rapid structural alterations.

Dicer plays a key part in Schwann cell maturation and axon myelination.

The level of CREB expression and activity predicts whether long-term memory will decline or improve with age after life-extending strategies.

Neuronal activity triggers the activation of thousands of enhancers and the synthesis of enhancer RNA.

Neuronal recordings in humans show mirror-like activity in the medial frontal and medial temporal cortices.

The enhanced neurogenesis that is triggered by the interaction of males with their offspring postpartum is important for father–offspring recognition.