Review Articles in 2010

Individual neurons transform the relationship between synaptic input and output firing by utilizing both linear and nonlinear mechanisms. Angus Silver discusses the various underlying biophysical mechanisms in relation to the complexity of neuronal morphology and the neural coding regimes in which they are likely to operate.

Microdeletions in chromosome 22q11.2 cause substantial impairments in several areas of attention and increase the risk of developing schizophrenia. Karayiorgou and colleagues discuss the complex genetic and neural substrates that are altered by these microdeletions, drawing on data obtained from human patients and animal models.

Understanding the molecular basis of a cell's differentiation capacity will greatly aid attempts to use stem cells for therapeutic purposes. In this Review, Hirabayashi and Gotoh discuss the mounting evidence implicating epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of cell fate during neural development.

Nicotine addiction is notoriously difficult to overcome. In this article, Changeux reviews studies in transgenic mice that have started to reveal which nicotine receptor subunits mediate the effects of nicotine on behaviour, cognition and addiction and so might form therapeutic targets for nicotine addiction.

Keysers and colleagues review evidence that perceiving the sensations, actions and somatic pain of others induces activation in the somatosensory cortex. Perhaps similar to the mirror system for action understanding, this capacity might contribute to our understanding of other individuals' experiences.

Jan and Jan discuss various mechanisms by which neurons acquire their type-specific dendrite morphology. These have largely emerged from studies inDrosophila melanogaster, but are broadly applicable to vertebrates. The possible contribution of defects in dendrite morphogenesis to mental disorders such as autism is also considered.

Activation of GIRK channels decreases the excitability of neurons. Lüscher and Slesinger discuss the subunit composition and function of GIRK channels in several brain regions and the possible role of GIRK channel dysfunction in neurological diseases such as epilepsy, Down's syndrome and drug addiction.

The importance of neurotransmitter release by astrocytes is highly controversial. Hamilton and Attwell review evidence for the release of glutamate,D-serine and ATP by astrocytes and their role in shaping synaptic activity. Potential mechanisms of astrocyte neurotransmitter release, including regulated exocytosis, are assessed.

Kotaleski and Blackwell describe computational approaches derived from systems biology that have been used to elucidate the complex molecular mechanisms underlying synaptic plasticity. They highlight the advancements produced by these quantitative modelling efforts and discuss new approaches that incorporate data from live-cell imaging.

Emerging data suggest that small regulatory RNAs regulate stem cell self-renewal and neuronal fate specification. Li and Jin review the mechanisms through which this can be achieved and the implications for vertebrate and invertebrate neurogenesis.

The function of adult hippocampal neurogenesis is incompletely understood. Gage and colleagues describe the regulation and maturation of adult-born hippocampal neurons and review behavioural and computational modelling studies that indicate how adult-born neurons might contribute to hippocampus-dependent learning and memory.

The putative role of the parieto-frontal mirror circuit in action understanding is hotly debated. Reviewing studies in monkeys and humans, Rizzolatti and Sinigaglia describe what parieto-frontal mirror neurons encode, discuss the cognitive functions this circuit might support and address outstanding issues of controversy.

Palmitoylation is the most frequently observed lipid modification of neuronal proteins. Here, the authors review the roles and regulation of this reversible and highly dynamic post-translational modification in neurophysiological and neuropathological contexts.

The spatial arrangement of sensory receptors on the face is reiterated at each stage of the somatosensory pathway from the brainstem to the cortex. Rijli and colleagues discuss the molecular mechanisms by which somatotopic maps are formed in the brainstem.

Both vertebrates and insects use a broad repertoire of receptors to detect olfactory environmental cues. Kaupp reviews our current understanding of olfactory signalling, highlighting shared features and important differences between the systems used by vertebrates and insects.

The biological bases of individual differences in intelligence are largely unknown. Deary and colleagues discuss why, despite its high heritability, the molecular underpinnings of intelligence remain elusive, and show that variations in the structure and efficiency of brain pathways might contribute to intelligence differences.

Uhlhaas and Singer outline the evidence that schizophrenia is associated with deficits in neural oscillations. They discuss the possible underlying mechanisms and how these impairments might contribute to the pathophysiology of the disorder.

Astrocytes, like neurons, are organized into networks and exchange information through gap junction channels. Giaume and colleagues discuss the rules that govern communication between astrocytes and how astroglia networks can influence the function of neural networks.

The derivation of neural stem cellsin vitro offers a promising tool for basic research and biomedicine. In this Review the authors compare the properties of the cells generated in these culture systems with those present in vivoin an attempt to assess their physiological relevance for the study of neural precursors during CNS development and disease.

Karl Friston shows that different global brain theories all describe principles by which the brain optimizes value and surprise. He discusses how these brain theories fit into the free-energy framework, suggesting that this framework might provide a unified account of brain function.