Research Highlights in 2012

There are currently no known mutations in the amyloid-β precursor protein gene that reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Jonssonet al. now provide evidence for a mutation that protects against Alzheimer's disease and also confers a more general resistance against age-related cognitive decline.

Astrocytes in the mouse CNS migrate radially from their points of origin within the ventricular zone to restricted spatial domains throughout the brain and spinal cord, with implications for localized astrocyte functions.

Loss of TSC1 function in cerebellar Purkinje cells in mice induces an autism-like phenotype that can be prevented by rapamycin treatment.

The external globus pallidus contains two populations of interconnected GABAergic neurons, one of which exclusively targets the striatum.

The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex provides an updated estimate of cognitive load to allow future behavioural adaption.

A new technique to temporarily and selectively inactivate spinal interneurons reveals that spinal interneurons are crucial for reach and grasp movements.

Fruitless recruits two antagonistic chromatin modifying proteins to control the development of sexually dimorphic circuitry and behaviour in fruitflies.

Wallerian degeneration of severed axons is suppressed by the loss ofdSarm/Sarm1function, indicating the existence of an injury-induced axon death pathway.

Two studies show that a population of amacrine cells may have a key role in mammalian blue–green colour vision.

A cytoskeleton in the distal part of the axon forms a boundary that spatially restricts AnkG clustering and thereby AIS assembly.

Transplanted forebrain interneuron precursors integrate into spinal cord circuits and relieve neuropathic pain symptoms.

The microRNA let-7 can induce neurodegeneration by activating the Toll-like receptor TLR7.

A single exposure to a shock wave associated with a 'typical' explosive device is sufficient to induce sustained brain pathology and memory impairments as early as 2 weeks after exposure in mice.

ARC targets less active synapses for weakening through an interaction with inactive CaMKIIβ.

Diabetic patients often experience chronic pain as a complication of their condition. In this study, a metabolite produced under hyperglycaemic conditions is shown to influence the function of voltage-gated sodium channels expressed in nociceptive neurons resulting in neuropathic pain.

mTOR-regulated autophagy influences neurotransmission.

A study in rats shows that cue-induced expectation alters cortical processing of taste stimuli.

A new study shows that transplanted rod photoreceptors can become integrated into retinal circuits and restore functional vision in mice.

Motor activity in a paralysed hand is restored by directly translating neural signals in the motor cortex into muscle contractions, bypassing the spinal cord.

Four new studies provide insight into the heterogeneous nature of the genetic component of autism spectrum disorders.