News & Comment

State-dependent fear conditioning can be induced by activation of hippocampal extrasynaptic GABA_Areceptors and is regulated by protein kinase CβII activity and microRNA-33 signalling.

Neuronal atrophy early in a mouse model of spinal cerebellar ataxia 1 may represent an adaptive mechanism that restores the density of potassium channels in Purkinje neurons, thus normalizing membrane polarization and firing.

Activity-dependent redistribution of cadherin–catenin complexes between neighbouring dendritic spines drives pruning versus maturation.

Neutrophil infiltration of the brain drives cognitive decline in mouse models of Alzheimer disease and is regulated by the integrin LFA-1.

Presynaptic β-neurexins regulate synaptic strength at excitatory synapses by modulating endocannabinoid signalling.

A new study identifies a population of 'speed cells' in the rat medial entorhinal cortex that is likely to contribute to path integration.

The formation of a heteromer between cannabinoid 1 receptor and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 2A in the brain is required for cannabinoid-induced cognitive impairment, but not analgesia, in mice.

In the adult mouse CNS, reelin protects against amyloid-β-induced synaptic and behavioural deficits.

A study shows that α-synuclein can inhibit the formation of amyloid plaques in mice.

Specific ensembles of neurons in the basolateral amygdala representing unconditioned stimuli that mediate innate behaviours are also found to be necessary for the expression learned behaviours.

Lung nociceptors contribute to inflammation in a model of allergic asthma, in part by release of vasoactive intestinal peptide, and silencing these neurons may be a promising strategy for reducing inflammation in this disease.

A system inDrosophila melanogasterthat involves Diuretic hormone 44 (a homologue of mammalian corticotropin-releasing hormone) mediates the preferential ingestion and digestion of nutritive sugars.

Sleep reduces the activity of the dopamine neurons that promote forgetting inDrosophila melanogaster.

A study shows that elevated levels of the microRNA encoded by the schizophrenia-linked genemir-137impair presynaptic plasticity and hippocampus-dependent learning and memory in mice.

Research into the underlying pathology of c9FTD/ALS has been hampered by a lack of good mouse models, but a new study reports a mouse model that recapitulates both the cellular and the behavioural pathology associated with these disorders.

Components of the RNA repair and splicing machinery are shown to have a role in regulating axon regenerative capacity in fly sensory neurons.

Interactions among semaphorin 6A, plexin A2 and plexin A4, and between contactin 4 and amyloid precursor protein, are crucial for the normal development of the circuits underlying vertical and horizontal optokinetic reflexes, respectively.

Disruption of actin polymerization in the frontal cortex, which causes abnormal dendritic spine structures, results in locomotor hyperactivity owing to dysregulation of a midbrain dopaminergic circuit.

A study uses optogenetics to dissect the circuits involved in associating environmental stimuli with positive or negative outcomes.

Reelin induces transcriptional changes in neurons by increasing the formation of an intracellular fragment of its target receptor that interacts with specific enhancer regions in the nucleus.