Top 7 papers in neuroscience

1. How neurons grow There's another layer of complexity in the developing nervous system: Spontaneous neuronal activity can regulate the differentiation of neurons, which can in turn affect swimming behavior in frog larvae. M. Demarque et al., Neuron 2010 Jul 29 67(2):321-34. linkurl:Eval by;http://f1000biology.com/article/9dmj38ygwp234jw/id/4525956 Keith Sillar, University of St Andrews; Judith S Eisen, University of Oregon; Antonia Marin-Burgin and Alejandro Schinde, Leloir Institute ID: 452

Written byJef Akst

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1. How neurons grow There's another layer of complexity in the developing nervous system: Spontaneous neuronal activity can regulate the differentiation of neurons, which can in turn affect swimming behavior in frog larvae. M. Demarque et al., Neuron 2010 Jul 29 67(2):321-34. linkurl:Eval by;http://f1000biology.com/article/9dmj38ygwp234jw/id/4525956 Keith Sillar, University of St Andrews; Judith S Eisen, University of Oregon; Antonia Marin-Burgin and Alejandro Schinde, Leloir Institute ID: 4525956 2. Big role for astrocytes

Neurons transfected with a disease-
associated huntingtin protein
Image: Wikimedia commons, Dr. Steven Finkbeiner,
Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease

Once thought to be mere supporting cells, astrocytes in the brainstem are highly chemosensitive and appear to play a role in breathing. A.V. Gourine et al., Science 2010 Jul 30 329(5991):571-5. linkurl:Eval by;http://f1000biology.com/article/y6q0m15v8vm52qd/id/4672017 Tom Finger, Univ. Colorado Denver Sch. Medicine; Matt E Carter and Luis de Lecea, Stanford University ID: 4672017 3. Retina, redux Photosensitive ganglion cells, which were only discovered in the mammalian retina in the early 1990s, play a greater role in visual function than previously believed, suggesting that the current understanding of retinal physiology may need to be revisited. J.L. Ecker et al., Neuron 2010 Jul 15 67(1):49-60. linkurl:Eval by;http://f1000biology.com/article/lbszbfynrl77lbp/id/4242997 Roger Hardie, University of Cambridge; Steven Repper, University of Massachusetts Medical School ID: 4242997 4. Addiction answers Drug addiction may be caused by a loss in synaptic plasticity, which inhibits new learning and makes drug use more compulsive. F. Kasanetz et al., Science 2010 Jun 25 328(5986):1709-12. linkurl:Eval by;http://f1000biology.com/article/t32xxrvvnvytx0f/id/4077956 Charles Pickens, Donna Calu and Yavin Shaham, National Institute on Drug Abuse; Rainer Spanagel, Central Institute of Mental Health, Germany Pharmacology & Drug Discovery ID: 4077956 5. Source of mechanotransduction? Researchers pinpoint the molecular identity of a mechanosensitive channel in C. elegans, suggesting a possible starting point for the hunt for mechanotransduction channels mediating hearing, touch, and propioception in mammals. L. Kang et al., Neuron 2010 Aug 12 67(3):381-391. linkurl:Eval by;http://f1000biology.com/article/vknxgq69shb3p4h/id/4765957 Roger Hardie, University of Cambridge; Paul Garrity, Brandeis University ID: 4765957 6. How huntingtin hurts New clues have emerged to how a defective form of the huntingtin protein may cause the deadly changes that lead to Huntington's disease -- by potentially disrupting the process of neurogenesis, thereby decreasing neural progenitor cells. J.D. Godin et al., Neuron 2010 Aug 12 67(3):392-406. linkurl:Eval by;http://f1000biology.com/article/9wcmbfrz14kg2q9/id/4903959 Monte Gates, Keele University; Mark Fortini, National Cancer Institute ID: 4903959 7. Mass migration in vivo Using a novel technique, researchers discover clues about what guides the migration of neural crest cells in a developing embryo, providing insights into both embryogenesis and cancer metastasis, where collective cell migration also plays a role. E. Theveneau et al., Dev Cell 2010 Jul 20 19(1):39-53.linkurl: Eval by;http://f1000biology.com/article/qtljzfwf3dvcjwd/id/4576956 Ravi Desai and Christopher Chen, University of Pennsylvania; Tina Schwabe and Thomas Clandinin, Stanford University ID: 4576956 The F1000 Top 7 is a snapshot of the highest ranked articles from a 30-day period on Faculty of 1000 Neuroscience, as calculated on August 27, 2010. Faculty Members evaluate and rate the most important papers in their field. To see the latest rankings, search the database, and read daily evaluations, visit linkurl:http://f1000.com.;http://f1000.com
**__Related stories:__***linkurl:Top 7 immunology papers;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/57630/
[24th August 2010]*linkurl:Top 7 papers in neuroscience;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/57574/
[27th July 2010]*linkurl:Top 7 papers in neuroscience;http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/57574/
[27th July 2010]

Meet the Author

Jef Akst

Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.

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