Neuroscience

Convergence of inputs from the basal ganglia with layer 5 of motor cortex and cerebellum in mouse motor thalamus

1. Kevin P Koster
2. S Murray Sherman

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This investigation marks an important advancement in our understanding of motor thalamus connectivity, illustrating a complex integration of inputs that reshapes previous models. The study utilizes compelling methodologies that expose a dynamic synaptic network, although the evidence of triple-input convergence on individual neurons and for multiple driver type inputs onto motor thalamic neurons remains incomplete. Despite this, the findings provide a persuasive rationale for revisiting our perceptions of the thalamic role in motor control, with a call for further studies to substantiate the breadth of these functional interactions.

Reviewed by eLife

BDNF signaling requires Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 during structural synaptic plasticity

1. Diana Legutko
2. Bożena Kuźniewska
3. Katarzyna Kalita
4. Ryohei Yasuda
5. Leszek Kaczmarek
6. Piotr Michaluk

Reviewed by Review Commons

Specific and comprehensive genetic targeting reveals brain-wide distribution and synaptic input patterns of GABAergic axo-axonic interneurons

1. Ricardo Raudales
2. Gukhan Kim
3. Sean M Kelly
4. Joshua Hatfield
5. Wuqiang Guan
6. Shengli Zhao
7. Anirban Paul
8. Yongjun Qian
9. Bo Li
10. Z Josh Huang

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The authors develop a novel genetic strategy for specific and comprehensive labeling of axo-axonic cells, also referred to as chandelier cells, in the mouse brain. The approach and analysis are rigorous such that the data convincingly support the key conclusions, including the expanded distribution of axo-axonic cells throughout the brain. This study provides important new information about the distribution of a significant neuronal cell type, as well as new tools for future studies. This work will be of broad interest to neuroscientists who work on the anatomical and functional organization of neural circuits.

Reviewed by eLife

Brain age has limited utility as a biomarker for capturing fluid cognition in older individuals

1. Alina Tetereva
2. Narun Pat

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This useful manuscript challenges the utility of current paradigms for estimating brain-age with magnetic resonance imaging measures. It presents solid evidence to support the suggestion that an alternative approach focused on predicting cognition may be more beneficial. This work will be of interest to researchers working on brain-age and related models.

Reviewed by eLife

Rule-based modulation of a sensorimotor transformation across cortical areas

1. Yi-Ting Chang
2. Eric A Finkel
3. Duo Xu
4. Daniel H O'Connor

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important work advances our understanding of how brains flexibly gate actions in different contexts, a topic of great interest to the broader field of systems neuroscience. Recording neural activity from several sensory and motor cortical areas along a sensorimotor pathway, the authors found that preparatory activity in motor cortical areas of the mouse depends on the context in which an action will be carried out, consistent with previous theoretical and experimental work. Furthermore, the authors provide causal evidence that these changes support flexible gating of actions. The carefully carried out experiments were analyzed using state-of-the-art methodology and provide convincing conclusions.

Reviewed by eLife

Single-cell RNA sequencing of iPSC-derived brain organoids reveals Treponema pallidum infection inhibiting neurodevelopment

1. Qiu-Yan Xu
2. Yong-Jing Wang
3. Yun He
4. Xin-Qi Zheng
5. Man-Li Tong
6. Yu Lin
7. Tian-Ci Yang

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This is a valuable study that describes the effects of T. pallidum on neural development by applying single-cell RNA sequencing to an iPSC-derived brain organoid model. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid, although further evidence to understand the differences in infection rates would strengthen the conclusions of the study. In particular, the conclusions would be strengthened by validating infection efficiency as this can impact the interpretation of single-cell sequencing results, and how these metrics affect organoid size as well as comparison with additional infectious agents. Furthermore, additional functional validations of downstream effectors could be insightful.

Reviewed by eLife

Semaphorin7A patterns neural circuitry in the lateral line of the zebrafish

1. Agnik Dasgupta
2. Caleb C Reagor
3. Sang Peter Paik
4. Lauren M Snow
5. Adrian Jacobo
6. AJ Hudspeth

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The valuable findings by Dasgupta et al demonstrate the role of Sema7a in fine tuning the morphology of the microcircuit between afferent axons and sensory hair cells in the lateral line organ. The loss and gain of function evidence provides solid support for a role for Sema7a in this process. Additional work is needed to determine the role for different isoforms in Sema7a-mediated synapse formation and chemoattraction as well as cell type specificity.

Reviewed by eLife

Serotonergic and dopaminergic neurons in the dorsal raphe are differentially altered in a mouse model for parkinsonism

1. Laura Boi
2. Yvonne Johansson
3. Raffaella Tonini
4. Rosario Moratalla
5. Gilberto Fisone
6. Gilad Silberberg

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important work provides convincing data on neuronal heterogeneity in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), focusing on their electrophysiological properties, morphology, and susceptibility to the neurodegeneration of noradrenaline and dopamine systems in the Parkinsonian state. These findings suggest a significant interplay between catecholaminergic systems in healthy and parkinsonian conditions, as well as neuronal structure and function. Such findings provide a strong foundation for basic scientists as well as pre-clinical researchers interested in the role of dorsal raphe neurons in Parkinson's disease.

Reviewed by eLife

Physiological roles of endocytosis and presynaptic scaffold in vesicle replenishment at fast and slow central synapses

1. Satyajit Mahapatra
2. Tomoyuki Takahashi

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  Following synaptic vesicle fusion events at release sites, vesicle remnants will need to be cleared in order to allow new rounds of vesicle docking and fusion. This fundamental study of Mahapatra and Takahashi examines the role of release site clearance in synaptic transmission during repetitive activity in two types of central synapses, the giant calyx of Held and hippocampal CA1 synapses. The study uses pharmacological approaches to interfere with release site clearance by blocking membrane retrieval (endocytosis). The results also show how pharmacological inhibition of scaffold proteins affects short-term plasticity. The data presented make a compelling case for fast endocytosis as necessary for rapid site clearance and vesicle recruitment to active zones. The data reveal an unexpected, fast role for local site clearance in counteracting synaptic depression.

Reviewed by eLife

Visual working memories are abstractions of percepts

1. Ziyi Duan
2. Clayton E Curtis

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This paper provides valuable insights into the neural substrates of human working memory. Through clever experimental design and rigorous analyses, the paper provides compelling evidence that the working memory representation of stimulus orientation is a reformatted version of the presented stimulus, though more work is needed to establish more generally that visual working memories are abstractions of percepts. This work will be of broad interest to cognitive neuroscientists working on the neural bases of visual perception and memory.

Reviewed by eLife