News & Comment

Molecular changes in blood that occur with ageing may be partly responsible for the decreased neurogenesis and cognitive deficits that are observed in aged mice.

Biomarkers for autism may reveal causes of the condition and could be used to improve diagnosis and enable earlier detection of autism spectrum disorders. Walsh and colleagues discuss the major scientific challenges in the search for autism biomarkers and consider a number of important social and ethical concerns arising from biomarker development and application.

Chronic ingestion of probiotic ('good') bacteria can reduce anxiety, an effect that seems likely to be mediated via the vagus nerve.

The effects of prenatal stress on sex differences in brain gene expression and behaviour can be transmitted down the paternal lineage to male offspring.

A new study shows that in its native state, α-synuclein predominantly exists as an α-helical tetramer rather than an unfolded monomer.

The synaptic vesicle protein RAB3B seems to have a key role in endocannabinoid-dependent presynaptic long-term depression at hippocampal inhibitory synapses and also in spatial memory retention.

The retrograde transport of signalling endosomes requires the activation of RAC1and cofilin to induce actin depolymerization.

Grid cells and place cells encode little information about vertical position in three-dimensional space.

During the synaptic maturation and elimination phase of hippocampal development, microglia may engulf unwanted synapses, and thus contribute to correct circuit maturation.

Reducing adult neurogenesis induces depression-like behaviour under stressful conditions.

A novel function for CaMKIIβ has been identified in the mammalian brain whereby it regulates dendritic patterning through phosphorylation of CDC20–APC/C at the centrosome.

A new study reveals the physiological basis of age-related memory decline and potential means to restore it.