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Przedborski and Wichterle discuss various ways in which stem cells may be used to facilitate research in neurodegeneration. Particularly, this Perspective highlights the use of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from affected individuals as a potential tool to better dissect disease mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases and to aid in restorative therapy.
Defects in the cellular homeostatic process of autophagy have been observed in various neurodegenerative disorders. In this Review, Wong and Cuervo highlight the latest literature to discuss different types of autophagic dysfunction in neurodegenerative conditions and compare the interplay between autophagy and other cellular degradation processes.
This review article highlights the recent advances on how amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides can affect synaptic and neuronal circuit function—both in the context of normal brain function and in Alzheimer's disease—and discusses the consequence of aberrant Aβ at neural network level.
A newly discovered population of glutamatergic brainstem neurons that can be activated by muscarinic agonists augments transmission from the mesencephalic locomotor region to reticulospinal neurons in the locomotor pathway.
A study in this issue finds that laboratory strains of male mice can recognize their offspring as adults if given the chance to interact with infant pups. This recognition requires prolactin-mediated adult neurogenesis in the male parent's olfactory bulb and hippocampus.
Cilia are increasingly appreciated regulators of brain homeostasis. Several recent studies examine the cellular and molecular mechanisms of their biogenesis and orientation in ependymal cells.
New work identifies a neurogenic progenitor population in the developing human and ferret cortex that may have contributed substantially to the evolution of cortical expansion and folding in higher mammals.
Combining cell group specific gene expression patterns with recent technologies has provided insights into brain circuitry. A new resource may make it possible for those studying the hypothalamus to use these techniques as well.
Rats given extended access to high-fat high-sugar food show behavioral and physiological changes that are similar to those caused by drugs of abuse. However, parallels between drug and food “addiction” should be drawn with caution.
The molecular mechanisms responsible for anxiety remain largely unresolved. A study in this issue finds that an interaction between receptors for a hormone and a neurotransmitter regulates anxiety.
Axon degeneration in the adult brain is usually pathological, but a new study finds that mis-sprouting cholinergic axons in the healthy mouse brain are eliminated by a degenerative process that is triggered by myelin via p75NTR.
A study identifies a previously unknown neuropeptide-based feedback signaling pathway in C. elegans that modulates the response of primary sensory neurons to chemical stimuli and odorant-evoked behaviors.
A new study finds causal evidence that the lateral prefrontal cortex, implicated in executive function, is critical for making decisions in which forgoing a small immediate reward can lead to a better future outcome. These results suggest that this area provides a neural signal that biases behavior in favor of delaying gratification.
A study in this issue reports that mice can be fear conditioned through observation of other mice receiving aversive stimuli and identifies some of the brain regions involved in this observational fear learning.
Memories are continually adapted by ongoing experience. A study now suggests that the reactivation of previously stored memories during the formation of new memories is a critical mechanism for determining memory survival.
Vasopressin release increases late in sleep. Suprachiasmatic clock neurons modulate osmosensory synapses onto vasopressin neurons to facilitate osmoregulated vasopressin release, reports a study in this issue. This explains the increased late-night vasopressin release, and such facilitation prevents dehydration during sleep.
A study finds that the DNA methylation enzymes Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a are needed to maintain the epigenetic landscape in nondividing, postmitotic neurons and that this process is required for normal learning and memory.
Investigating the organization of tone representation in the rodent auditory cortex at high resolution, two new studies in this issue find that the arrangement of relative frequency responsiveness is not preserved at a fine-scale cortical level.
