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The contribution of visual information to the representation of space in the brain is well known and recent research in rodents has indicated that spatial signals can also influence visual processing. In this Review, Saleem and Busse describe what is known about these bidirectional interactions and their importance in the control of visuo-spatial behaviour.
Alternative splicing dysregulation contributes to the molecular pathology of a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. In this Review, Nikom and Zheng discuss the latest advances in RNA-based therapeutic strategies developed to target the underlying splicing mechanisms.
Various theories exist for the function of the dentate gyrus in learning and memory. In this Perspective article, Rangel and colleagues compare a number of these theories and discuss how they may be further tested to develop a better understanding of dentate gyrus function.
Microglia are detected in active lesions in multiple sclerosis (MS) and research in animal models has suggested diverse roles for these cells in neural damage and repair. Gosselin and colleagues discuss the mechanisms through which microglia contribute to neuropathology and the molecular mechanisms that regulate their function in demyelinating conditions.
Oligodendrocytes secrete extracellular vesicles, which deliver cargo to axons where they regulate key cellular processes. In this Review, Krämer-Albers and Werner discuss the mechanisms by which extracellular vesicles promote neuronal health and their potential to be utilized therapeutically.
Artificial neural networks are being widely used to model behavioural and neural data. In this Perspective article, Doerig et al. present neuroconnectionism as a Lakatosian research programme using artificial neural networks as a computational language for expressing falsifiable theories and hypotheses about the brain computations underlying cognition.
The thalamus is a subcortical structure that is highly interconnected with various brain regions. In this Perspective, Kai Hwang and colleagues examine the role of the human thalamus in the systems-level control of information processing.
In many animals, injury can be followed by a pattern of persistent pain and recuperative behaviour that facilitates effective recovery. In this Perspective, Seymour, Crook and Chen outline a control theory framework to explain the adaptive processes that occur in the brain that underlie behaviour after injury.
The pathogenesis of multiple system atrophy, a rapidly progressing oligodendroglial α-synucleinopathy, is not well understood. In this Review, Stefanova and Wenning discuss how converging findings from genetic and neuropathological studies and experimental models have revealed a complex cascade of mechanisms that underlie the disorder.
Neural manifolds can shed light on how heterogeneous neuronal population activity drives neural computations, but linking these insights to the underlying neuronal connectivity is challenging. Engel and colleagues emphasize the importance of approaches that seek to connect neural dynamics with connectivity, providing key examples of advances towards this goal.
Recent technological advances allow recordings of human brain activity to be made as participants engage in free movement inside and outside the laboratory. Suthana and colleagues describe these innovations, their application to cognitive neuroscience studies and their potential to transform our understanding of brain function in naturalistic settings.
In this Perspective, Floegel et al. examine two perspectives — musculoskeletal plant control and perceptual control — on modelling human motor control. They discuss the implications of adopting one or the other perspective when conducting such modelling and the consequences for our understanding of actions.
Clarification of mechanisms underlying inflammation and neural repair after ischaemic stroke could lead to improved prognosis. In this Review, Shichita et al. discuss the biphasic nature of the post-stroke inflammatory response and the key molecules and cells involved.
The CNS critically relies on an extensive and complex vasculature to function properly. In this Review, Wälchli and colleagues examine the general and CNS-specific mechanisms that underlie angiogenesis in brain development, brain vascular malformations and brain tumours.
Through their widespread connectivity, cholinergic projection neurons in the basal forebrain can modulate diverse cognitive functions. In this Review, Ananth and colleagues provide a comprehensive overview of the development, organization and function of different populations of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons.
The advanced cognitive capacities of humans are linked to the evolution of a number of species-specific cortical features. In this Review, Pierre Vanderhaeghen and Franck Polleux discuss the genomic modifications and changes in neurodevelopmental mechanisms that underpin the human brain’s unique complexity and function.
Primates can quickly detect situations in which their performance deviates from the intended goal by the process of error monitoring. In this Review, Rutishauser and colleagues discuss the neuronal mechanisms that underlie such monitoring in macaques and humans.
Spectrins are abundant cytoskeletal proteins with multifaceted roles in the nervous system whose dysfunction leads to neurological syndromes. In this review, Lorenzo et al. provide an update on the neurobiology of spectrins and the genetics of neuronal spectrinopathies, together with insights into the pathophysiology of these disorders.
Ion channels in primary sensory neurons are molecular targets for the treatment of chronic pain. In this Perspective, Ovsepian and Waxman assess prospective gene therapies directed towards such targets and discuss their translational potential to enable precision pain medicine.
Recent technological advances have provided insights into the diversity of neuronal subtypes within the midbrain dopamine system. In this Review, Garritsen and colleagues discuss molecular and functional distinctions between subtypes and describe mechanisms underlying their development, wiring and function.
