Articles in 2010

The spatial arrangement of sensory receptors on the face is reiterated at each stage of the somatosensory pathway from the brainstem to the cortex. Rijli and colleagues discuss the molecular mechanisms by which somatotopic maps are formed in the brainstem.

Neuronal expression of PrP^Cis required for the maintenance of the myelin sheaths around peripheral nerves.

Coadministration of α₂-adrenoceptor antagonists accelerates the effects of antidepressants.

Both vertebrates and insects use a broad repertoire of receptors to detect olfactory environmental cues. Kaupp reviews our current understanding of olfactory signalling, highlighting shared features and important differences between the systems used by vertebrates and insects.

The biological bases of individual differences in intelligence are largely unknown. Deary and colleagues discuss why, despite its high heritability, the molecular underpinnings of intelligence remain elusive, and show that variations in the structure and efficiency of brain pathways might contribute to intelligence differences.

The importance of coordinating activity across neural networks for brain function.

GABAergic interneurons were identified as hub cells that trigger network synchronization in the hippocampus.

Inflammation-induced nuclear export of HDAC1 disrupts axonal transport of mitochondria, initiating axonal damage in models of demyelinating diseases.

LRRTM2 drives presynaptic and postsynaptic synapse assembly and is a ligand for neurexin 1

Uhlhaas and Singer outline the evidence that schizophrenia is associated with deficits in neural oscillations. They discuss the possible underlying mechanisms and how these impairments might contribute to the pathophysiology of the disorder.

Astrocytes, like neurons, are organized into networks and exchange information through gap junction channels. Giaume and colleagues discuss the rules that govern communication between astrocytes and how astroglia networks can influence the function of neural networks.

The derivation of neural stem cellsin vitro offers a promising tool for basic research and biomedicine. In this Review the authors compare the properties of the cells generated in these culture systems with those present in vivoin an attempt to assess their physiological relevance for the study of neural precursors during CNS development and disease.

The switch from attraction to repulsion downstream of cAMP depends on a switch from EPAC- to PKA-mediated signalling.

MicroRNA 206 promotes muscle reinnervation in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Karl Friston shows that different global brain theories all describe principles by which the brain optimizes value and surprise. He discusses how these brain theories fit into the free-energy framework, suggesting that this framework might provide a unified account of brain function.

Fear memories can be blocked in humans by updating them during a window of reconsolidation with new, non-fear-related information.

Future activity in individual neurons can be predicted from past activity of small ensembles.

To celebrate the centenary of Brodmann's brain map, Zilles and Amunts review his pioneering work and its legacy. This article reconsiders the original concepts described by Brodmann and the use of his map for interpreting functional and structural neuroimaging data today.