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Lindenberger and colleagues suggest that research into the possible effects of 'brain training' should build on an understanding of the mechanisms of human brain plasticity.
Two recent studies report changes in the activity of cerebellar granule cells during two different types of learning, providing insights into the function of these cells.
The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol increases the tonic and evoked firing rate of mouse dopamine midbrain neurons by inhibiting A-type potassium currents through a direct lipid interaction with Kv4.3 channels.
Stroke survivors often adapt to the loss of upper-limb function by adopting compensatory strategies. Jones discusses evidence that these compensatory strategies may influence the neural remodelling processes that occur after the initial stroke and can have mixed effects on functional outcome of the paretic limb.
Amyloid precursor protein (APP) has been heavily implicated in Alzheimer disease, but the physiological roles of APP and the related APP-like proteins (APLPs) remain less well understood. This Review examines the functions of the APP family and its fragments in CNS development, synaptic function, brain injury and ageing.
Our growing understanding of cortical interneuron diversity has been matched by increasing interest in the underlying developmental mechanisms. Wamsley and Fishell describe current models of interneuron specification, highlighting the contribution of activity-dependent mechanisms to this process.
There is little agreement on the definition of emotions or the neural mechanisms by which they are realized. Bach and Dayan here use decision theory to shed light on the nature and implementation of the algorithms that underlie emotion-related behaviours.
