From the editors

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 607 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2910

This issue of Nature Reviews Neuroscience features articles on olfactory perception, the neural code, psychedelic drugs and the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on development.In a Review article on page 628, Gottfried highlights principles that underlie central mechanisms of odour object perception.

Neurodegenerative disease: The missing link

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 608 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2904

Author: Claudia Wiedemann

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

Neurodegenerative disease: microRNAs under threat from LRRK2

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 609 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2906

Author: Claudia Wiedemann

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

Neuron–glia interactions: Astrocytes in the air

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 610 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2905

Author: Leonie Welberg

Astrocytes control breathing through pH-dependent release of ATP.

In brief

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 611 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2908

NeurotransmittersDopaminergic network differences in human impulsivityBuckholtz, J. W.et al. Science329, 532 (2010)Dopamine (DA) is thought to have a role in impulsivity, but the mechanisms are unclear. The authors estimated midbrain D2 and D3 (inhibitory)

Synaptic plasticity: Assertive authorities

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 612 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2909

Author: Claudia Wiedemann

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

In brief

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 613 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2907

AgeingAttentuation of age-related changes in mouse neuromuscular synapses by caloric restriction and exerciseValdez, G.et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA2 Aug 2010 (doi:10.1073/pnas.1002220107)Age-related cognitive decline might be due to synaptic alterations. Here, the authors studied

Spiking activity propagation in neuronal networks: reconciling different perspectives on neural coding

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 615 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2886

Authors: Arvind Kumar, Stefan Rotter & Ad Aertsen

The brain is a highly modular structure. To exploit modularity, it is necessary that spiking activity can propagate from one module to another while preserving the information it carries. Therefore, reliable propagation is one of the key properties of a candidate neural code. Surprisingly, the

Socioeconomic status and the brain: mechanistic insights from human and animal research

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 651 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2897

Authors: Daniel A. Hackman, Martha J. Farah & Michael J. Meaney

Human brain development occurs within a socioeconomic context and childhood socioeconomic status (SES) influences neural development — particularly of the systems that subserve language and executive function. Research in humans and in animal models has implicated prenatal factors, parent–child interactions and cognitive stimulation in the

The neurobiology of psychedelic drugs: implications for the treatment of mood disorders

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 642 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2884

Authors: Franz X. Vollenweider & Michael Kometer

After a pause of nearly 40 years in research into the effects of psychedelic drugs, recent advances in our understanding of the neurobiology of psychedelics, such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocybin and ketamine have led to renewed interest in the clinical potential of psychedelics

Neuron–glia interactions: A tunnel signal

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 610 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2901

Author: Leonie Welberg

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

Multiple Sclerosis: Putting a dampener on inflammation

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 610 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2903

Author: Katie Kingwell

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

Neuroendocrinology: Housing conditions affect tumour growth

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 613 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2902

Author: Nicola McCarthy

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

Central mechanisms of odour object perception

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 628 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2883

Author: Jay A. Gottfried

The stimulus complexity of naturally occurring odours presents unique challenges for central nervous systems that are aiming to internalize the external olfactory landscape. One mechanism by which the brain encodes perceptual representations of behaviourally relevant smells is through the synthesis of different olfactory inputs into

Neurogenomics: Parental influences run deep

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 609 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2899

Author: Cristian Bodo

Genomic imprinting is widespread in the mouse brain and shows sexual dimorphism.

From the editors

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 533 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2896

This issue of Nature Reviews Neuroscience covers topics ranging from music to circadian rhythms, photoreceptor development, the axon initial segment and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) signalling in development.On page 599, Kraus and Chandrasekaran describe how music training promotes plasticity in the

Sensory systems: Back into the light

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 534 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2893

Author: Cristian Bodo

Expression of an exogenous rhodopsin can restore visual function after retinal degeneration in mice.

Spinal cord injury: The two faces of spontaneous serotonin signalling

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 535 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2888

Author: Katie Kingwell

Constitutive 5-HT2C receptor signalling is involved in both recovery and spasticity following spinal cord injury.

Spatial awareness: In space and time

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 535 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2891

Author: Claudia Wiedemann

Directional cells, place cells and grid cells mature at a different rate during development.

In brief

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 11, 536 (2010). doi:10.1038/nrn2892

AddictionStriatal microRNA controls cocaine intake through CREB signallingHollander, J. A.et al. Nature466, 197–202 (2010)The authors investigated whether microRNAs (miRNAs) have a role in cocaine-induced adaptive responses in brain reward systems. Rats with