Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Volume 18, No 10 October 2017

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Featured Article

The impact of cytoskeletal organization on the local regulation of neuronal transport

Jeffrey J. Nirschl, Amy E. Ghiretti & Erika L. F. Holzbaur

Front cover of the current issue of Nature Reviews Neuroscience

2016 2-year Impact Factor 28.880 Journal Metrics 2-year Median 23

Next issue date: 18 October 2017

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Review

Errant gardeners: glial-cell-dependent synaptic pruning and neurodevelopmental disorders


Urte Neniskyte & Cornelius T. Gross

During late-stage development, supernumerary synapses are eliminated in a process known as synaptic pruning. Here, Neniskyte and Gross give an overview of synaptic pruning in various parts of the nervous system and describe how differences in synaptic pruning may be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Current issue

Review

Electrodiffusion phenomena in neuroscience: a neglected companion


Leonid P. Savtchenko, Mu Ming Poo & Dmitri A. Rusakov

Neuroscience is going nanoscopic, but can it still rely on classical electrophysiology? In this Review, Savtchenko, Poo and Rusakov argue that accurate interpretation of physiological observations on the nanoscale must account for electrodiffusion phenomena arising from local perturbations of ionic concentrations.

Current issue

Review

The use of brain organoids to investigate neural development and disease


Elizabeth Di Lullo & Arnold R. Kriegstein

By capturing and manipulating the self-organizing capacity of pluripotent stem cells, researchers have established protocols for the production of in vitro brain-like 'organoids'. Di Lullo and Kriegstein evaluate approaches to organoid generation and consider their potential as models of brain development and disease.

Current issue

Review

The impact of cytoskeletal organization on the local regulation of neuronal transport


Jeffrey J. Nirschl, Amy E. Ghiretti & Erika L. F. Holzbaur

Neuronal trafficking has to meet the requirements of various intracellular compartments. In this Review, Nirschl, Ghiretti and Holzbaur examine how the transport machinery, including the cytoskeleton and molecular motors, is locally regulated to allow neuronal compartment-specific transport.

Current issue

Review

Polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias — from genes to potential treatments


Henry L. Paulson, Vikram G. Shakkottai, H. Brent Clark & Harry T. Orr

Several of the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) result from expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ)-encoding regions in different genes. Here, Orr and colleagues examine the clinical features of the the polyQ SCAs, and suggest that understanding the molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying polyQ SCAs can inform therapeutic strategies for these and other polyQ disorders.

Current issue

Research Highlights

More Neuroscience

Noticeboard

Parkinson disease

Parkinson disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is clinically diagnosed by its motor features and characterized by loss of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (pars compacta), which is thought to start years before clinical symptoms manifest. 2017 marks the 200th anniversary since James Parkinson published An Essay on the Shaking Palsy. To mark this event, Nature Reviews Disease Primers, Nature Reviews Neuroscience and Nature Reviews Neurology present this collection of articles about cutting-edge basic and clinical research into Parkinson disease.

Molecular mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily targets vulnerable motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness and fatal paralysis. Various disease-associated genetic mutations have been identified, providing insight into the cellular pathways that are disrupted in the disorder. This poster provides an overview of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that have been proposed to contribute to ALS pathogenesis and describes the factors that are thought to underlie motor neuron vulnerability.

Scaling up neuroscience

Recent years have witnessed the launch of several large-scale national and international initiatives that aim to transform our understanding of brain structure and function through collaborative research and the development and implementation of state-of-the-art neurotechnology. These projects are likely to have wide-ranging influences on all aspects of neuroscientific research, from its organization to its funding. Nature Reviews Neuroscience presents a series of Comment articles in which leading neuroscientists provide their thoughts on the issues, challenges and opportunities that these initiatives present.

The immunology and neurobiology of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuroinflammatory condition that affects the central nervous system and presents with various neurological and cognitive symptoms. Although these symptoms and the disease course of MS can vary considerably among affected individuals, most people with this condition exhibit a progressive accumulation of disability in the later phase of the disease. This poster provides an overview of the pathophysiological contributions of both the immune system and the nervous system to MS and how these contributions change with disease progression. The poster also highlights the sites of action of the currently available drugs for MS and briefly touches on other therapeutic strategies that are being explored.

Poster on Control of sleep in mammals

Various brain regions and neuronal populations have been implicated in the control of sleep in mammals. This Poster presents an overview of mammalian sleep generation, provides details of some common sleep disorders and touches on the function of sleep. This Poster is freely available thanks to support from Merck & Co., Inc.

Cell-reprogramming technology and neuroscience

Advances in cell-reprogramming technology have made it possible to convert differentiated cells of one type into cells of a completely different origin and function. This poster illustrates the principles through which cell-reprogramming technology can be used to generate distinct types of neural cells and outlines the most promising applications of these cells in neuroscientific research. This poster is freely available thanks to support from STEMCELL Technologies

Stress

Acute stress induces signalling in the brain and physiological changes that allow an individual to respond appropriately to the encountered situation or threat, whereas chronic stress can elicit detrimental, long-lasting effects on brain function. Nature Reviews Neuroscience presents a series of articles on stress that cover topics ranging from the molecular pathways and cellular processes that are affected by stress to its effects at the behavioural level.

The endocannabinoid system

Although cannabis has been used for centuries as a recreational drug, the mechanisms of action of its active constituents (cannabinoids) and their endogenous counterparts (endocannabinoids) have only been discovered relatively recently. Nature Reviews Neuroscience presents a series of articles that examine the multiplicity of roles of the endocannabinoid system in the CNS, from development to behaviour, and the potential for cannabinoid-based therapies in the treatment of a range of brain disorders.

Poster on BDNF function in health and disease

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most widely expressed and well-characterized member of the neurotrophin family in the mammalian brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience presents a Poster on the diverse roles of BDNF in the developing and mature nervous system. The Poster is freely available thanks to support from EVER Neuro Pharma.

Neuroscience and the law

New insights into the neural processes that underlie cognition and behaviour have led to discussions about the relevance of these discoveries for the criminal justice system. Conversely, laws can influence neuroscience, for example, with regard to psychoactive drugs and stem cell research. Nature Reviews Neuroscience presents a series of articles that explore the interaction between neuroscience and the law.

Chronic pain collection

This Nature Collection brings together articles from Nature, Nature Medicine, Nature Neuroscience, Nature Reviews Neurology and Nature Reviews Neuroscience that highlight recent advances towards understanding the risk factors and mechanisms that underlie chronic pain, and developing effective, non-addictive treatments for this highly prevalent condition. These articles are freely accessible for 6 months thanks to support from the NIH Pain Consortium.

Neural circuits series

A fundamental goal of neuroscience research is to understand how the brain's neural circuits are structurally and functionally connected. Nature Reviews Neuroscience presents a series of articles that explore various approaches to the analysis of the structure and function of neural circuits and describe recent methodological advances that are driving research.

Brain ageing series

A special series of articles examining the hallmarks of ageing in the brain, the mechanisms underlying brain ageing and the implications for brain function and disease susceptibility. These articles cover the latest findings at the genetic, cellular, circuit and behavioural levels in humans and model organisms, and explore the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that affect the ageing process, as well as potential strategies to slow it down.

Focus on Addiction

This Focus issue features five articles that discuss recent insights into the neurobiology of addiction — from the molecular to the behavioural level — and highlight the importance of these findings for the development of new treatments.

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