Review Articles in 2019

Spinal neural circuits are established through the navigation of multiple types of neuronal axon to their appropriate synaptic targets. Chédotal reviews the cellular and molecular mechanisms that control this complex wiring, incorporating recent discoveries of new guidance factors.

Much of the mammalian nervous system is innervated by neurons that express and release 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). In this Review, Okaty, Commons and Dymecki explore the diversity in the properties and function of the 5-HT neuronal system.

Recent studies indicate that cerebellar dysfunction contributes to the aetiology of many neurodevelopmental disorders. In this review, Gallo and colleagues cover recent discoveries in basic cerebellar research, linking them to human imaging and preclinical work on complex brain disorders with motor and non-motor deficits.

In addition to ensuring stable gaze and posture, the vestibular system contributes to the perception of self-motion and orientation. In this Review, Cullen provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in our understanding of sensory encoding and integration in the vestibular pathways.

The cerebral cortex is made of cells originating in distinct brain regions. In this Review, Silva and colleagues discuss the dual role played by cell migration to bring cells in and to provide crosstalk that shapes cortical morphogenesis.

There is growing evidence for activity-dependent plasticity at inhibitory GABAergic synapses. In this Review, Chiu and colleagues propose that an array of molecular mechanisms promotes the parallel regulation of synapses formed by distinct presynaptic interneurons innervating perisomatic or dendritic targets.

Here, Hong and Lieber review recent developments in electrode technologies for the recording of single-unit spiking activity. They focus on advances in electrodes with high spatial integration, long-term stability and multifunctional capacities.

Electrical synapses comprise intercellular channels termed gap junctions and are found in vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. In this Review, Pepe Alcamí and Alberto Pereda examine the properties of electrical synapses that influence neural circuit dynamics without modifying gap junction conductance.

The role of glia in supporting and modulating neuronal activity has been an active area of research. In this Review, Patel et al. discuss the evidence and mechanisms whereby reactivated glia contribute to the development and progression of epilepsy.

It is now clear that most classical ‘cell types’ are composed of collections of cells with heterogeneous features. Cembrowski and Spruston describe the heterogeneity of hippocampal pyramidal cells and argue that these cells can act as a model of within-cell-type heterogeneity in the brain.

Recent years have seen a growing interest in the neurobiological basis of paternal caregiving. Feldman and colleagues review studies that have shed light on the circuits that underlie paternal care in mammals and the consequences of this care for fathers and their offspring.

Oxidative damage plays a key role in the development of Alzheimer disease. In this Review, Butterfield and Halliwell discuss how this damage relates to impaired brain glucose metabolism and proteostasis defects and how knowledge of it may suggest potential therapies.

Epigenetic mechanisms play an important part in learning and memory. Here, Campbell and Wood give an overview of epigenetic mechanisms that are necessary for such processes, with a particular focus on the bidirectional relationship between the epigenome and the synapse.

Neurosecretion is controlled by SNAREs and SNARE-binding proteins and is initiated by the influx of Ca²⁺ ions through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs). In this Review, Dittman and Ryan discuss progress in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of VGCCs and fusion machinery.

Understanding the complex interplay of cells that protect neurons early in Alzheimer disease but later contribute to neurodegeneration is important for developing effective therapeutics. In this Review, Henstridge and colleagues discuss the contributions of multiple cell types to disease pathogenesis.

Why is the human cerebral cortex folded? Llinares-Benadero and Borrell provide an overview of the mechanical, cellular and molecular factors — and the interactions among them — that influence cortical folding in gyrencephalic species.