EMERGING IDEAS IN NEURAL SCIENCE

Nature Neuroscience

• The Zika threat to the periphery
  Zika virus infection is associated with birth defects, including microcephaly, but also with disorders of peripheral nerves. Oh et al. use rodent and human cell models to explore how the virus affects the peripheral nervous system.
  Sergiu P. Paşca
• Loopholes in the DNA contract kill neurons
  Hexanucleotide repeat expansions in C9orf72 gene locus create double jeopardy, first by leading to DNA–RNA R-loops that spawn double-strand breaks and second by the synthesis of dipeptide repeats that hinder DNA repair. This two-pronged mechanism may explain neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia.
  Hei-Man Chow
• Jamais vu all over again
  What is the basis for the feeling that someplace or someone is familiar? Molas et al. have identified brain structures involved in signaling familiarity, a necessary element for the expression of preference for novelty.
  Victoria L Templer
• Is population activity more than the sum of its parts?
  A study introduces innovative ways to test whether neural population activity exhibits structure above and beyond that of its basic components.
  Mikio C Aoi
• Functions and dysfunctions of neocortical inhibitory neuron subtypes
  Hattori et al. review the recent advances in our understanding of the roles of inhibitory neuron subtypes in shaping the activity and plasticity states of neocortical circuits, how neuromodulators control inhibitory neuron subtypes, and the role of inhibitory neuron dysfunction in neurological disorders.
  Takaki Komiyama
• Zika virus directly infects peripheral neurons and induces cell death
  Zika virus infection is associated with neurological disorders, yet few studies have directly examined its impact on the peripheral nervous system. Oh et al. show that Zika virus can infect peripheral neurons in the mouse in vivo, as well as human peripheral neurons in vitro, leading to increased cell death and transcriptional dysregulation.
  Gabsang Lee
• Gut microbiota is critical for the induction of chemotherapy-induced pain
  Recent evidence supports a functional connection between gut microbiota and the nervous system. Here the authors show that gut microbiota plays a critical role in the development of chemotherapy-induced pain. This role of the microbiota is likely mediated, in part, by Tlr4 expressed on hematopoietic cells, including macrophages.
  Jianren Mao
• Rates, distribution and implications of postzygotic mosaic mutations in autism spectrum disorder
  Survey of postzygotic mosaic mutations (PZMs) in 5,947 trios with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) discovers differences in mutational properties between germline mutations and PZMs. Spatiotemporal analyses of the PZMs also revealed the association of the amygdala with ASD and implicated risk genes, including recurrent potential gain-of-function mutations in […]
  Christopher A Walsh