Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2014

Pregnenolone is strongly upregulated by Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and limits several addictive and other effects of THC.

MicroRNA-128 is expressed in striatal dopamine D1 receptor-expressing neurons and might contribute to the neuronal hyperexcitability observed in epilepsy and motor disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

A new study shows that myelination may proceed in activity-dependent and -independent manners and that activity-dependent myelination is linked to neuregulin-induced signalling in oligodendrocytes, which makes these cells more sensitive to glutamate release.

In neonatal mice, low or moderate cortical activity has no effect on the developing cerebral microvasculature, but more-persistent, repetitive cortical activity can lead to detrimental changes in the cerebral microvasculature.

Microglia promote learning-induced formation of glutamatergic synapses, and this effect is mediated by microglial brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

In vivointracellular recordings and imaging of synaptic activity are revealing how sensory information is conveyed and processed in the brain. This article explores how dynamic interactions between evoked synaptic inputs and their integration within individual neurons generates sensory signalling in the cerebellar and cerebral cortices.

Since their discovery in 2002, inflammasomes have been shown to be crucial mediators of caspase 1 activation, interleukin-1β and interleukin-18 release, and pyroptotic cell death. This Review describes our current understanding of the functions of different inflammasomes in the CNS and their roles in neurological diseases.

The roles of melanocortins extend well beyond the regulation of energy homeostasis. In this article, the authors review their involvement in different pathophysiological states, which could lead to the development of improved therapeutics for pain and mood disorders, and cognitive impairments.

The function of brain oscillations remains unclear, although a role in controlling the flow of signals among anatomically connected networks has been proposed. In this Opinion article, Akam and Kullmann discuss how network oscillations might convey multiplexed information that enables a flexible reconfiguration of effective connectivity among brain areas.

The scientific and legal interest in functional MRI-based lie detection has grown rapidly in the past decade. In this Perspective, Farah and colleagues review the scientific state of the art of this approach to lie detection, discuss its legal status and consider broader ethical and societal implications.