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Thalamus mediates neocortical Down state transition via GABAB-receptor-targeting interneurons 07/26/2021

Slow-wave sleep is characterized by near-synchronous fluctuations between neocortical Up and Down states. Hay et al. report an active mechanism of globally synchronized Down transition by midline thalamic inputs. Synchronization of slow oscillations allows coordinated activation of brain areas, a feature thought to be important for memory consolidation.

RNA modulates physiological and neuropathological protein phase transitions 07/22/2021

Mann and Donnelly review the role of RNA in the phase behavior of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), both for physiological function and in the context of neurodegenerative disease. Recent literature reporting the influence of distinct molecular characteristics, such as RNA length and secondary structure, on the regulation of RBP phase transitions is highlighted within the framework […]

Hippocampal ripples and their coordinated dialogue with the default mode network during recent and remote recollection 07/22/2021

Norman et al. report that synchronous hippocampal bursts (ripples) selectively emerge when patients recall past autobiographical events. Those ripples form spatial patterns that become increasingly similar to semantic-memory patterns, the more remote the memory. The results demonstrate the pivotal role of ripples in coordinating recollections in the human brain.

Cortical control of behavior and attention from an evolutionary perspective 07/22/2021

Sherman and Usrey argue that attentional mechanisms result from evolutionary processes requiring cortex to operate through older subcortical circuits. To avoid chaos, only certain cortical regions at any time may control these circuits. This is the basis for attention.