Articles in 2014

In mice, behavioural training is effective at attenuating old fear memories in mice if these memories are epigenetically 'primed' after recall by treatment with a histone deacetylase inhibitor.

Lateral inhibition of photoreceptors in the zebrafish retina is mediated by proton efflux from horizontal cells.

Memories are thought to be represented in the brain by the 'memory trace' — altered levels of activity in specific neurons and synapses in a neural network. In this Review, Silva and colleagues discuss emerging evidence that the neurons and synapses involved in encoding a particular memory are not random but are specifically 'allocated' based on complex molecular signatures that are determined by the recent activity history of the neuron.

A new study reveals that epidermal cells engulf and degrade degenerating dendrites in theDrosophila melanogasterperipheral nervous system.

A new study shows that myelination may proceed in activity-dependent and -independent manners and that activity-dependent myelination is linked to neuregulin-induced signalling in oligodendrocytes, which makes these cells more sensitive to glutamate release.

The roles of melanocortins extend well beyond the regulation of energy homeostasis. In this article, the authors review their involvement in different pathophysiological states, which could lead to the development of improved therapeutics for pain and mood disorders, and cognitive impairments.

The scientific and legal interest in functional MRI-based lie detection has grown rapidly in the past decade. In this Perspective, Farah and colleagues review the scientific state of the art of this approach to lie detection, discuss its legal status and consider broader ethical and societal implications.

Pregnenolone is strongly upregulated by Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and limits several addictive and other effects of THC.

Microglia promote learning-induced formation of glutamatergic synapses, and this effect is mediated by microglial brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

In vivointracellular recordings and imaging of synaptic activity are revealing how sensory information is conveyed and processed in the brain. This article explores how dynamic interactions between evoked synaptic inputs and their integration within individual neurons generates sensory signalling in the cerebellar and cerebral cortices.

The function of brain oscillations remains unclear, although a role in controlling the flow of signals among anatomically connected networks has been proposed. In this Opinion article, Akam and Kullmann discuss how network oscillations might convey multiplexed information that enables a flexible reconfiguration of effective connectivity among brain areas.

Since their discovery in 2002, inflammasomes have been shown to be crucial mediators of caspase 1 activation, interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 release, and pyroptotic cell death. This Review describes our current understanding of the functions of different inflammasomes in the CNS and their roles in neurological diseases.