Articles in 2023

The stress associated with early-life social deprivation in mice results in corticosterone-driven overstimulation of cortical synapse removal by astrocytes and behavioural abnormalities in mature animals.

A new study reveals a neural circuit that regulates innate sexual behaviour in male mice.

Stress modulates immune system function and systemic inflammation is linked to stress-related disorders, including depression. Russo and colleagues outline the neural circuits through which the CNS regulates immune cell function in peripheral tissues in response to stress and consider how these responses contribute to stress-related pathophysiology.

Membrane excitability is central to neuronal function, and neurons must be resilient to changes in its underlying parameters. In this Perspective article, Marom and Marder suggest that two complementary mechanisms contribute to the resilience of membrane excitability: rapid ‘kinetic-based’ regulation of ion channel proteins and slower homeostatic control of ion channel membrane densities.

Neurodegenerative diseases show idiosyncratic spatial patterns of progressive protein malformations in the brain. In this Perspective, Vogel et al. discuss the role of inter-regional connectivity in constraining and modulating the spread of pathological proteins and provide a framework for patient-tailored prognostics.

Motherhood in humans is associated with numerous neurobiological adaptations. In this Review, Servin-Barthet et al. focus on the interplay among pregnancy-related hormones, brain plasticity and maternal behaviour and aim to provide a roadmap for future investigations.

Ciliated neurons sited at the interface between the CNS and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are present in many species; however, it is only in recent years that these ‘CSF-contacting neurons’ have been investigated in detail. Wyart et al. here discuss the features of these neurons and our current understanding of their varied contributions to CNS function.

Cardiac disease drives the denervation of the pineal gland, resulting in a loss of neural control of melatonin release and disrupted sleep–wake patterns.

Through the study of animal models, translational research aims to uncover mechanisms that may underlie phenomena observed in humans. In this Review, Brynildsen et al. explore the contributions of network science approaches to cross-species translational research in neuroscience.

During cortical development, direct neurogenesis was found to generate key glutamatergic projection neuron subclasses and indirect neurogenesis generated and amplified specific subpopulations within these subclasses.

A co-released inhibitory neurotransmitter and stimulatory neuropeptide are shown to act on different timescales to enhance circuit output and optimize behaviour.

In addition to its well known role in fast inhibitory synaptic transmission, GABA mediates the tonic inhibition of neuronal activity over slower timescales. Lee, Cheong and colleagues provide an overview of the mechanisms that regulate GABA tone in the brain and the contribution of tonic GABA currents to cognitive function.

Findings suggest that the presence of a myelin sheath increases an axon’s vulnerability in autoimmune conditions.

Developments in connectomics and network neuroscience over the past 20 years have led to new ways of investigating communication in complex brain networks. In this Review, Seguin, Sporns and Zalesky discuss the current landscape of models of brain network communication.

Gut-resident macrophages are shown to have roles in circuit refinement and maintenance in the mouse enteric nervous system.

The increase in blood corticosterone triggered by the release of proinflammatory cytokines is shown to involve vagal regulation of a parabrachial nucleus–paraventricular nucleus pathway.