Article
|
Open Access
Featured
-
-
Article |
Injured adult neurons regress to an embryonic transcriptional growth state
In mouse models of central nervous system injury, Htt is shown to be a key component of the regulatory program associated with reversion of the neuronal transcriptome to a less-mature state.
- Gunnar H. D. Poplawski
- , Riki Kawaguchi
- & Mark H. Tuszynski
-
Article |
Midbrain circuits that set locomotor speed and gait selection
Speed and gait selection in mice are controlled by glutamatergic excitatory neurons in the cuneiform nucleus and the pedunculopontine nucleus, which act in conjunction to select context-dependent locomotor behaviours.
- V. Caggiano
- , R. Leiras
- & O. Kiehn
-
Letter |
Motor neurons control locomotor circuit function retrogradely via gap junctions
WebMotor neurons in zebrafish are shown to be more than simply output neurons, since they are able to influence, through gap junctions, the strength of the input they receive from V2a interneurons and, thereby, the frequency and duration of locomotor activity.
- Jianren Song
- , Konstantinos Ampatzis
- & Abdeljabbar El Manira
-
Article |
Presynaptic inhibition of spinal sensory feedback ensures smooth movement
A population of spinal interneurons that form axo–axonic connections with the terminals of proprioceptive afferents are shown to mediate presynaptic inhibition; their ablation elicits harmonic oscillations during goal-directed forelimb movements, which can be modelled as the consequence of an increase in sensory feedback gain.
- Andrew J. P. Fink
- , Katherine R. Croce
- & Eiman Azim
-
Article |
Skilled reaching relies on a V2a propriospinal internal copy circuit
Cervical propriospinal neurons (PNs) form a genetically accessible subclass of V2a interneurons that convey both premotor output and precerebellar copy signals; their ablation in mice impairs reaching movements selectively, and activation of their internal copy projection recruits a rapid cerebellar feedback loop that modulates forelimb movement.
- Eiman Azim
- , Juan Jiang
- & Thomas M. Jessell
-
Article |
Brainstem nucleus MdV mediates skilled forelimb motor tasks
The authors use a combination of viral tracing and genetics to characterize the diversity of neurons projecting from mouse brainstem to motor neurons that control limb movements; in particular they discover that the medullary reticular formation ventral part (MdV) is functionally specialized for skilled forelimb motor control.
- Maria Soledad Esposito
- , Paolo Capelli
- & Silvia Arber
-
-
Outlook |
Sensation and loss
An injury to the spine — the long bony assemblage that supports the upper body and the spinal cord that carries nerve signals — can be grim and costly. By Bill Cannon.
- Bill Cannon
-
Outlook |
Drug development: Chemical brace
Drugs to protect vulnerable neurons and encourage neural circuits to reform could one day improve the outlook for patients with acute spinal cord trauma.
- Megan Cully
-
Outlook |
Perspective: Avoiding injury
There are easy ways to reduce the odds of suffering a life-changing injury, says Sara Klaas.
- Sara J. Klaas
-
Outlook |
Regenerative medicine: Rebuilding the backbone
Surgeons can help fix damaged vertebrae, but could an infusion of cells in a bioengineered material grow to replace a damaged spinal column?
- Mike May
-
Outlook |
Perspective: Protecting the neck
Better data and technology could prevent many devastating injuries, says Peter Cripton.
- Peter A. Cripton
-
Outlook |
Emergency medicine: The need for speed
Minimizing the damage done by an injury to the spinal cord requires fast action and advanced technology.
- Karyn Hede
-
Outlook |
Technology: Mobility machines
Mechanical suits known as exoskeletons can help people with spinal cord injuries stand up and walk away from their wheelchairs — but not without training.
- Peter Gwynne
-
Outlook |
Stem cells: A time to heal
The first stem-cell therapies for spinal cord injuries are already being tested in clinical studies, but scientific and political uncertainty remain.
- Cassandra Willyard