Search

In a huge collaborative effort, millions of cells in the mouse brain have been mapped in detail. Two scientists examine the resulting wealth of insights into gene regulation in brain cells, neuronal connections and how our own brains evolved.Transcriptomic and epigenomic data from millions of mouse brain cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three studies of the human dopamine transporter reveal how it binds to molecules such as dopamine and cocaine. Dopamine imbalances underlie some brain conditions and these data will aid targeted drug design.Insights into how molecules bind to the human dopamine transporter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field is taking a leap forward thanks to innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence. Researchers must improve consent procedures and public involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers shouldn’t fear papers that test and find flaws in methods. Such work contributes to better experimental designs and better science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active neurons can stimulate the clearance of their own metabolic waste by driving changes to ion gradients in the surrounding fluid and by promoting the pulsation of nearby blood vessels.Neurons stimulate the brain's waste disposal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies reveal how neuronal populations in the fruit fly brain work together to compare the direction of a goal with the direction that the fly is facing, and convert this into a signal that steers the fly towards its target.Fly brains compare directional information while steering to a goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new wave of research is unpicking the relationship between cancer and neurons — and looking for ways to stop the crosstalk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights from News & Views published this year.Snapshots of research from 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1987, two independent groups cloned a gene that encoded the potassium-ion-channel protein Shaker, enabling functional and structural studies that have transformed ion-channel research. Cloning of the Shaker protein had far-reaching effects in neuroscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural activity in human brains rapidly restructures to reflect hidden relationships needed to adapt to a changing environment. Surprisingly, trial-and-error learning and verbal instruction induce similar changes.Mental maps of associated items are rapidly assembled by the human brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transistor made from atomically thin materials mimics the way in which connections between neurons are strengthened by activity. Two perspectives reveal why physicists and neuroscientists share equal enthusiasm for this feat of engineering.Two views on a transistor that mimics synaptic plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies linking features in brain imaging to traits such as cognitive abilities are too small to be reliable, argues a controversial analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Google scientists have modelled a fragment of the human brain at nanoscale resolution, revealing cells with previously undiscovered features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As large-scale neuroscience projects start to yield results, sharing data standards will become increasingly important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists are beginning to crack the fiendishly complex code that helps us to sense odours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single gene in astrocytes can constrain repetitive behaviours, indicating that these cells are regulators of behavioural disruption in conditions such as Huntington’s disease and obsessive–compulsive disorder.Astrocytes temper neuronal excitability to control repetitive behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A neural probe has been used to capture the activity of large populations of single neurons as people are speaking or listening, providing detailed insights into how the brain encodes specific features of speech.Probing the neurons that encode features of speech in the human brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists around the world are working together to catalogue and map cells in the brain. What have these huge projects revealed about how it works? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four notable emerging scientists discuss their work and the country’s research scene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists are closing in on biomarkers that reflect the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and could improve treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It’s a transformational time long neglected by neuroscience. That is starting to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientists interested in the brain have tended to avoid studying religion or spirituality for fear of being seen as unscientific. That needs to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies find a densely connected network of neurons that communicate over long distances, rather than across synapses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical stimulation improved his mobility, although researchers say that a larger study is needed to assess the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two brain–computer interfaces have been developed that bring unprecedented capabilities for translating brain signals into sentences — at speeds close to that of normal speech, and with vocabularies exceeding 1,000 words. Thoughts converted to sentences at speeds nearing that of normal speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decades of neuroscientific work have focused on exploring a biological basis for transgender identity — but researchers must take societal factors into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers are striving to reverse-engineer artificial intelligence and scan the ‘brains’ of LLMs to see what they are doing, how and why. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sympathetic nervous system, which enables the fight-or-flight response, was thought to be present only in jawed vertebrates. Analysis of a jawless vertebrate suggests that this system might be a feature of all animals with a spine.Jawless vertebrate has sympathetic neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A population of neurons that engages mechanisms of the innate immune system during memory formation has been uncovered in mice. Surprisingly, inflammatory signalling might pave the way for long-term memory.A pathway of the immune system has a surprising role in memory formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fringe theory links microbes in the brain with the onset of dementia. Now, researchers are taking it seriously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mouse studies suggest that drugs from LSD to ecstasy renew the brain’s flexibility — but some scientists are sceptical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implants and other technologies that decode neural activity can restore people’s abilities to move and speak — and help researchers to understand how the brain works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are dozens of theories of how the brain produces conscious experience, and a new type of study is testing some of them head-to-head. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteins have been developed that emit flashes of light in response to influxes of calcium ions into cells on millisecond timescales. Two sets of scientists discuss the legacy and future of these proteins.Scientists discuss the legacy and future of GCaMP calcium indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons progressively deteriorate with age and lose resilience to injury. It emerges that treatment with three transcription factors can re-endow neurons in the mature eye with youthful characteristics and the capacity to regenerate. Resetting the methylation clock rejuvenates old retinal ganglion cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By tracing the neural circuits that are active when mice anticipate pain relief, neuroscientists find that the placebo effect involves the cerebellum and brain stem — areas that typically mediate 'lower' brain functions. Tracing the neural circuits that underlie the placebo effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After a person takes the psychedelic compound psilocybin, some of their brain networks dissolve — especially the one involved in the perception of self, space and time. Changes to the connections to this network can last for weeks.Psilocybin induces profound changes in brain connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models of the human brain’s cortex have been made by combining cells from up to five donors. This approach could enable genetic background to be accounted for in studies of brain development and disease.Cortical organoids made from a mix of stem cells from different donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synaptic connections between cancer cells and neurons can boost tumour growth. Analyses of brain tumours reveal how cancer cells enhance the strength of synapses with neurons to promote tumour survival.Insights into how synapses between cancer cells and neurons strengthen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection by the bacterium Clostridioides difficile can be fatal in a clinical setting. Insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying such infection might offer targets for the search to develop new treatments.Insights into inflammation during infection by Clostridioides difficile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialized neurons that are activated after infection have been identified in the brain. These neurons orchestrate an array of sickness behaviours that help the body to cope with disease and to fight infection.Specialized populations of brainstem neurons mediate signs of sickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit fly 'connectome' will help researchers to study how the brain works, and could further understanding of neurological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science is beginning to uncover the multiple processes driving persistent pain. But connecting people with treatments that will help them remains a challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Human Brain Project wraps up in September after a decade. Nature examines its achievements and its troubled past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By combining single-cell sequencing with methods to map the spatial location of gene expression, scientists are unravelling the extraordinary cellular diversity of the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When DNA is misplaced inside cells, the cGAS–STING molecular system triggers inflammation. It emerges that stimulation of this mechanism in microglial cells of the brain during ageing contributes to cognitive decline.Misplaced DNA triggers inflammation in the brain’s microglial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A little-studied sensory structure called the Krause corpuscle is responsible for detecting light touch and is essential for normal sexual behaviour in mice. The findings have interesting implications for human sexual intimacy. Krause corpuscles in genitalia detect light touch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroscientists find that two distinct neural pathways are responsible for the addictive properties of the opioid fentanyl: one mediates reward, the other promotes the seeking of relief from symptoms of withdrawal.Neural mechanisms that reinforce use of potent synthetic opioid found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain neurons encode memories of events that occurred in specific physical locations known as place fields. Chickadees show patterns of neuronal activity that are specific to locations of hidden food but independent of place fields.Firing patterns of hippocampal neurons encode memories of cached food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial neural networks that model the visual system of a male fruit fly can accurately predict the insect’s behaviour in response to seeing a potential mate — paving the way for the building of more complex models of brain circuits.Neural networks predict a male fruit fly’s response to seeing a female. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]