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Volume 24 Issue 1, January 2021

Microglia surveillance prevents hyperexcitability

Microglia constantly extend and retract processes to survey the brain parenchyma. Merlini, Rafalski and colleagues report the role of dynamic microglial brain surveillance in the prevention of brain network hyperexcitability. The cover art illustrates microglia processes contacting neuronal somata to reduce excessive neuronal activity and prevent neuronal hypersynchrony and seizures.

See Merlini et al.

News & Views

  • A new study proposes an exciting new model of neuronal diversification in the developing enteric nervous system (ENS) and establishes a detailed molecular taxonomy for enteric neurons. Their findings open new horizons for ENS research and for developing cell-based therapies for ENS disorders.

    • Julia Ganz
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  • One of the mechanisms driving aging and neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of senescent cells, while their elimination mitigates age-related decline. A new report details how, with aging, changes in the dentate gyrus microenvironment lead to natural-killer-cell-mediated clearance of neurogenic senescent cells, resulting in cognitive decline.

    • Nurit Papismadov
    • Valery Krizhanovsky

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Review Articles

  • Gangopadhyay, Chawla et al. examine the neural bases of social decision-making at different processing stages and across humans, non-human primates and rodents. These examinations underscore the importance of the medial prefrontal–amygdala pathways.

    • Prabaha Gangopadhyay
    • Megha Chawla
    • Steve W. C. Chang
    Review Article
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Brief Communications

  • Merlini, Rafalski et al. show that dynamic microglial brain surveillance prevents hyperexcitability and seizures by Gi-dependent microglia–neuron interactions in response to evoked neuronal activity to maintain physiological network synchronization.

    • Mario Merlini
    • Victoria A. Rafalski
    • Katerina Akassoglou
    Brief Communication
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