Brainstem articles from across Nature Portfolio

The neural mechanisms by which the brain initiates self-generated actions are unclear. The authors show, using population imaging and single-cell ablation, that ramp-to-threshold firing dynamics over multiple seconds is critical for the initiation of self-generated eye movements.

In primates, the superior colliculus (SC) contributes to rapid visual exploration with saccades. Here the authors show that the superior colliculus preferentially represents low spatial frequencies, which are the most prevalent in natural scenes.

Breathing is a crucial yet surprisingly complex behaviour. Del Negro, Funk and Feldman describe the neural mechanisms underlying different phases of the breathing cycle, and how breathing affects, and is affected by, emotion, cognition and other behaviours.