An endogenous inhibitor of mTORC1 is essential for stress-induced synapse loss and depression-like behaviour in rodents.

Distinct populations of neurons in the posterior dorsal part of the medial amygdala antagonistically regulate social behaviour and self-grooming, a non-social behaviour.

CB1 cannabinoid receptors at the terminals of glutamatergic corticostriatal neurons exert neuroprotective effects by preventing excitotoxicity.

Reduced sociability in frontotemporal dementia may be due, at least in part, to a reduction in miR-124 levels resulting in altered AMPA receptor composition and function in the frontal cortex.

PFC neurons take control of food intakeThe prefrontal cortex (PFC) regulates behaviours, but its role in controlling food intake specifically is not well understood.The authors showed that in mice, dopamine receptor 1 (D1R)-expressing PFC neurons are activated during feeding.Optogenetic stimulation of D1R-expressing PFC neurons in the left hemisphere increased food intake, whereas bilateral inhibition reduced it.D1R-expressing neuron stimulation also selectively increased activity in the medial basolateral amygdala (mBLA) -one of the target areas of these neurons -and stimulation of the terminals of D1R-expressing PFC neurons in the mBLA increased food intake.These data point to a prefrontal-mBLA circuit for the control of food intake.

Pericytes set the toneDo pericytes have a role in regulating cerebral blood flow?Attwell and colleagues showed that in rat cerebellar slices, glutamate application triggered dilation of pericytes and capillaries.Whisker pad stimulation evoked pericyte dilation and then capillary dilation in the somatosensory cortex, particularly at locations apposed by pericytes.In rat cortex slices, ischaemia induced vasoconstriction at locations apposed by pericytes, followed by pericyte death.These findings point to a role for pericytes in blood flow regulation and suggest that pericyte death may prevent reperfusion after ischaemia.

The period length of the circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus can be modulated by changes in DNA methylation induced by shortening the light–dark cycle.

Neuronally expressed major histocompatibility complex class I molecule H2-D b regulates structural and functional plasticity at retinogeniculate synapses.

PFC neurons take control of food intakeThe prefrontal cortex (PFC) regulates behaviours, but its role in controlling food intake specifically is not well understood.The authors showed that in mice, dopamine receptor 1 (D1R)-expressing PFC neurons are activated during feeding.Optogenetic stimulation of D1R-expressing PFC neurons in the left hemisphere increased food intake, whereas bilateral inhibition reduced it.D1R-expressing neuron stimulation also selectively increased activity in the medial basolateral amygdala (mBLA) -one of the target areas of these neurons -and stimulation of the terminals of D1R-expressing PFC neurons in the mBLA increased food intake.These data point to a prefrontal-mBLA circuit for the control of food intake.

Neurogenesis — in infancy or adulthood — induces forgetting of established memories.

recent study has identified a potential blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.