Articles in 2010

Activation of NMDARs can both promote neuronal health and kill neurons. In this Review, Hardingham and Bading discuss the downstream effects of stimulation of synaptic NMDARs and extrasynaptic NMDARs that result in promotion of neuroprotection and cell death, respectively.

Inhibitors of leucinerich repeat kinase 2 reduce neuronal damage in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Toll-like receptor 3 signalling suppresses hippocampal neurogenesis and impairs working memory.

Glucocorticoid hormones modulate the acquisition and consolidation of memories of stressful events. Krugers and colleagues review recent evidence that glucocorticoids achieve this through rapid and persistent effects on AMPA receptors by activation of mineralocorticoid receptors and glucocorticoid receptors, respectively.

Ketamine-induced activation of mTOR signalling underlies its antidepressant effects.

Emotional stimuli, such as a fear-expressing face, can be processed without being consciously perceived and can influence behaviour. Tamietto and de Gelder describe the subcortical pathway that processes such stimuli, and discuss whether subcortical versus cortical processing of stimuli translate into non-conscious versus conscious perception. An interview with Beatrice de Gelder for Neuropod is available for download.

tau regulates the interaction of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) with NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors, which are thought to mediate Aβ toxicity.

translational regulation of E2F1 and DP by miRNAs is implicated in LRRK2-mediated pathogenesis in Parkinson's disease.

Astrocytes control breathing through pH-dependent release of ATP.

SIRT1 modulates synaptic plasticity through microRNA-dependent regulation of the transcription factor cAMP-responsive element-binding (CREB) protein.

Socioeconomic status (SES) influences brain development. Farah and colleagues discuss evidence that prenatal factors, parent–child interactions and cognitive stimulation mediate this effect, and consider implications for alleviating SES-related disparities in mental health and academic achievement.

Reliable propagation of spiking activity in the brain is vital for information processing. Kumar, Rotter and Aertsen now propose that under certain conditions asynchronous and synchronous propagation of spiking activity can co-exist in a modular neuronal network, and they suggest experimental strategies to test this hypothesis.

In this Perspective, Vollenweider and Kometer discuss the clinical potential of psychedelic drugs for the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, and describe the molecular mechanisms by which classical hallucinogens and dissociative anaesthetics affect serotonin and glutamate systems. An interview with Franz X. Vollenweider for Neuropod is available for download.

Mice that experience an enriched environment are more resistant to tumour growth.

New neurons control, through Slit-Robo signalling, the organization of the glial tubes through which they migrate in the RMS.

Signalling by metabotropic glutamate receptor 4 counteracts neuroinflammation in a rodent model of multiple sclerosis.