Rai14-Tara complex enhances the stability of dendritic spines and synaptic connections relevant to depressive-like behaviors.

Microglia that presumably sense neuronal activity via detection of glutamate at synapses in the hippocampus show higher fine process motility and increased contact rates associated with formation and elimination of dendritic spines under conditions of elevated neuronal activity.

Dopaminergic cells uniquely receive input from a roughly equal mixture of synapses on dendritic spines and synapses formed directly on dendrites.

Correlated light and electron microscopy of cortical neurons reveals a local organization of mitochondria near dendritic spines with diverse functional properties.

Spines with multiple excitatory contacts are potential sites for competition between thalamic and cortical axons, which is regulated by the astrocytes through the secreted synaptogenic protein hevin.

Caenorhabditis elegans has bona fide dendritic spines, suggesting that the advantages of small model organisms, such as genetic manipulations and live-cell imaging, can be exploited to study dendritic spines.

Cryo preservation of brain tissue reveals dendritic spines with thinner necks compared to those prepared with chemical fixation.

Extrasynaptic GABA_A receptors that emerge at puberty trigger adolescent synaptic pruning; pruning is prevented and cognition is impaired if the receptors are absent.

The protein-lipid modification palmitoylation targets the kinase LIMK1 to dendritic spines to ensure precise control of the size of individual spines in response to synaptic activation.

CaMKII and the actin-crosslinking protein α-actinin-2 associate within minutes of the induction of long-term potentiation and disrupting this interaction prevents formation of enlarged dendritic spines.