Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.005
Ilayda Demir, Seung-Hee Lee
{"title":"Perceptual generalization across visual and tactile spaces.","authors":"Ilayda Demir, Seung-Hee Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cross-modal generalization enables animals to adapt to changing environments. In a recent paper, Guyoton, Matteucci, et al. demonstrated that a dorsal cortical region enables visuo-tactile generalization by constructing peri-personal space representations. These findings expand current understanding of the neural circuits supporting perceptual generalization across sensory modalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"641-642"},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144699598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-08-15DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.006
Daniel K Mulkey, Thiago S Moreira, Ana C Takakura, Sarvin Jahanbani, Michelle L Olsen
{"title":"Retrotrapezoid nucleus chemoreception: mechanisms of function and contributions to disordered breathing in disease.","authors":"Daniel K Mulkey, Thiago S Moreira, Ana C Takakura, Sarvin Jahanbani, Michelle L Olsen","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The brain regulates breathing in response to changes in CO<sub>2</sub>/H<sup>+</sup> by a process referred to as respiratory chemoreception. The retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) is essential for this function. RTN neurons are intrinsically activated by CO<sub>2</sub>/H<sup>+</sup>. Astrocytes contribute as well, by providing a CO<sub>2</sub>/H<sup>+</sup>-dependent purinergic drive to augment neural activity directly and indirectly by causing vasoconstriction. Here, we summarize preclinical studies in rodents that identify: (i) mechanisms of CO<sub>2</sub>/H<sup>+</sup> detection by RTN neurons; (ii) how this information is integrated at the neural network level; and (iii) how RTN neural activity is shaped by CO<sub>2</sub>/H<sup>+</sup> sensitive astrocytes. We also discuss how disruption of RTN chemoreception might contribute to breathing problems in disease, and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting CO<sub>2</sub>/H<sup>+</sup>-dependent and -independent regulatory elements of RTN neurons.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"706-720"},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12360489/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-07-22DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2025.06.009
Wookbong Kwon, Michael R Williamson, Benjamin Deneen
{"title":"A functional perspective on astrocyte heterogeneity.","authors":"Wookbong Kwon, Michael R Williamson, Benjamin Deneen","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.06.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.06.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Astrocytes are glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that perform an array of diverse functions that are essential for brain activity. Studies on the functional diversity of astrocytes suggest that such diversity may be derived from specialized populations. We provide an overview of the current state of research on astrocyte diversity and outline current challenges and knowledge gaps while also examining the developmental origins of these populations and how their interactions with neurons contribute to their functional heterogeneity. We highlight recent studies that provide evidence for functionally diverse astrocyte populations under homeostatic conditions and as an adaptive response to a range of experiences. This review provides a framework for understanding the dynamic and heterogeneous features of astrocytes across the CNS.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"691-705"},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12313154/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144691655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2025-09-01Epub Date: 2025-08-07DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.007
Sybren Van Hoornweder, Charlotte J Stagg, Miles Wischnewski
{"title":"Personalizing transcranial electrical stimulation.","authors":"Sybren Van Hoornweder, Charlotte J Stagg, Miles Wischnewski","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) encompasses non-invasive neuromodulation techniques, such as transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation, which modulate the central nervous system to probe causal links between the brain and behavior and treat disorders. Unfortunately, fixed stimulation paradigms induce variable effects due to intra- and interindividual factors. Consequently, personalized approaches to tES are increasingly used. In this review, we highlight this emerging domain of human brain stimulation, examining strategies for the personalization of stimulation parameters and their underlying rationales. Multiparameter personalization and the identification of markers indicating tES efficacy represent promising directions. Personalization is not a panacea for all the challenges of tES, but marks an essential step toward reducing the variability of this technique.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"663-678"},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144804939","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The cost of remembering: engram competition as a flexible mechanism of forgetting.","authors":"Livia Autore, Michael R Drew, Tomás J Ryan","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The retention and use of long-term memories is crucial for adaptive behavior. While stable memories help organisms anticipate outcomes, they may become maladaptive if not updated to reflect new conditions as the environment changes. Accumulating evidence suggests that forgetting reflects altered activation of engram cells, with memories persisting in a latent state rather than being erased. One explanation for the forgetting of particular memories is active competition between memory engrams for expression in the brain. Behavioral studies reveal that various forms of forgetting stem from this competition. Here we synthesize behavioral research through the lens of engram competition, focusing on its biological substrates and driving factors. We propose a framework to better understand diverse forms of natural forgetting as well as associated pathological conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144856459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amitabh Bhattacharya, Ghazaleh Darmani, Kaviraja Udupa, Jean-François Nankoo, Mandy Yi Rong Ding, Robert Chen
{"title":"Induction of plasticity and metaplasticity using noninvasive brain stimulation.","authors":"Amitabh Bhattacharya, Ghazaleh Darmani, Kaviraja Udupa, Jean-François Nankoo, Mandy Yi Rong Ding, Robert Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.009","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) methods can modulate brain plasticity, the fundamental process by which synaptic connections are strengthened or weakened in response to synaptic activity or external stimuli. This review synthesizes current knowledge regarding how NIBS techniques induce long-lasting synaptic changes resembling long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). We place special emphasis on metaplasticity, the process by which prior neural activity influences subsequent plasticity responses. We highlight how various stimulation parameters, brain state, and individual differences shape plasticity outcomes, and emphasize the challenges in achieving consistent therapeutic effects. Additionally, we discuss the potential clinical impact of applying metaplasticity concepts in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. We outline critical areas for future research and emphasize the importance of developing personalized NIBS protocols that are closely aligned with underlying biological mechanisms to improve therapeutic outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144856458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Copine-6 as a regulator of TRPM3 membrane trafficking and noxious heat sensation.","authors":"Chen Zhang, Qingjian Han","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Noxious heat sensation involves multiple molecular receptors that operate under complex regulatory mechanisms. In a recent study, Gao, Yan, and colleagues identified Copine-6 as a calcium-sensitive phospholipid-binding protein that promotes TRPM3 trafficking to the plasma membrane in thermal sensory neurons and thereby enhances noxious heat sensitivity in mice. These findings expand current understanding of the mechanisms regulating thermal sensation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144849184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2025-08-01Epub Date: 2025-06-16DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2025.05.009
Randy R Brutkiewicz, Wei Cao, David Morgan, Roberta Souza Dos Reis, Vidyani Suryadevara, Auriel A Willette, Sara A Willette, Season K Wyatt-Johnson, Michael R Duggan
{"title":"What would it take to prove that a chronic infection is a causal agent in Alzheimer's disease?","authors":"Randy R Brutkiewicz, Wei Cao, David Morgan, Roberta Souza Dos Reis, Vidyani Suryadevara, Auriel A Willette, Sara A Willette, Season K Wyatt-Johnson, Michael R Duggan","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.05.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.05.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Accumulating evidence over several years suggests that microbial infections (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi) may play a role in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, we discuss the reported associations between a variety of microbes and the development of AD, as well as potential causal relationships between infections and AD risk. Having evaluated the current state of knowledge, we make specific recommendations for what it would take to present definitive evidence that chronic infections play a causal role in AD pathogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"608-623"},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12350065/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144318026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2025-08-01Epub Date: 2025-07-10DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.002
Kreesan Reddy, Birger Victor Dieriks
{"title":"Capturing α-synuclein aggregation interactors using UltraID-LIPA.","authors":"Kreesan Reddy, Birger Victor Dieriks","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Teixeira et al. present UltraID-light-inducible protein aggregation (UltraID-LIPA), a technique that combines optogenetic induction of α-synuclein aggregation with proximity-based proteomics. This system enables high-resolution capture of early aggregation events in live cells and implicates known and novel endolysosomal proteins, offering a robust framework for dissecting early pathogenic mechanisms in synucleinopathies and guiding future innovations.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"557-559"},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144620660","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in NeurosciencesPub Date : 2025-08-01Epub Date: 2025-07-16DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2025.06.004
Urszula Skupio, Alexander Z Harris, Abigail M Polter
{"title":"Untangling the multifaceted VTA responses to stress.","authors":"Urszula Skupio, Alexander Z Harris, Abigail M Polter","doi":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tins.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stress has profound impacts on the ventral tegmental area (VTA). However, the complex and opposing effects of stress on the VTA have limited our ability to reach a clear understanding of how adaptation of the VTA can drive behavior following stress. In this review we provide an overview of VTA responses to acute and chronic stress, with a primary focus on studies in mice and rats. We propose that divergent responses to stress arise from the heterogeneity of VTA neurons, the multidimensional nature of stress, and interactive effects between cumulative stressors. We suggest that the robust and varied plasticity of the VTA in response to stress indicates a role for the VTA as an integrator of homeostatic and affective information during stress to drive flexible and nuanced adjustments in behavioral adaptation.</p>","PeriodicalId":23325,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Neurosciences","volume":" ","pages":"582-593"},"PeriodicalIF":15.1,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12308838/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144660372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}