Volume 19 Issue 9, September 2018

Synapse formation and function at hippocampal CA1 synapses are shown to be regulated by three classes of leucine-rich repeat-containing adhesion molecules, which act in a modular manner to regulate spine density and synapse function.

Restoring function of the K⁺/Cl^– co-transporter KCC2 in spinal inhibitory interneurons spared after spinal cord injury helps the recovery of hindlimb function in mice.

In mice, ‘lost’ infant memories can be recovered through the optogenetic reactivation of silent engrams in the hippocampus.

Progressive hyperpolarization of ventricular zone progenitors regulates their sequential differentiation and migration in mouse primary sensory cortex.

The brains of individuals who have been addicted to opiate drugs show an increase in the number of hypocretin-expressing neurons — the same neurons that are lost in individuals with narcolepsy.

The planning and execution of goal-directed actions require numerous decisions to be made, from action selection to the continuous refinement of movement plans. Here, Gallivan et al. discuss these sensorimotor decision-making processes and their interactions with mechanisms of action planning and control.

Advanced techniques for the imaging and manipulation of neural circuits are increasingly being used to advance our understanding of psychiatric disorders. Ressler and colleagues describe our current understanding of the circuit dysfunction that underlies the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The gastrointestinal tract is innervated by the enteric nervous system (ENS), and disruption of ENS development can result in various gastrointestinal disorders. Here, Rao and Gershon review the complex processes involved in ENS development, including cell migration, proliferation and organization.

Modern network neuroscience involves the use of various types of models to understand the brain. In this Review, Bassett, Zurn and Gold discuss the aims of this approach before examining how network models may be categorized and validated.