A chemical screen reveals that a compound used to treat a parasitic disease can trigger pluripotent stem cells to become neurons, uncovering a novel mechanism behind neuronal development.

Genetic studies in mice identify the transcription factor MafB as a potent regulator of specific features of the synapses underlying hearing.

Natural sugars are preferred over artificial sweeteners because of their nutritional content, which is sensed by MCH neurons in the lateral hypothalamus.

A gene found in Drosophila, and named redeye, encodes a protein that accumulates during sleep deprivation and forms part of the homeostatic system that promotes and maintains sleep.

Combinations of transcription factors can convert pancreatic acinar cells into endocrine α-, β- and δ-cells in vivo.

The molecular mechanisms by which midbrain dopamine neurons acquire the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA for synaptic release are revealed.

The first complete 3D structures of mouse cholinergic neurons reveal the length and complexity of their axons, while calculations suggest that equivalent axons in the human brain are approximately than 100 meters long.

By reducing mitochondrial fusion, MUL1 compensates for the mutations in PINK1 or parkin that underlie certain cases of Parkinson's disease.

Three-dimensional mapping of the neural circuitry that controls movement of a marine worm in response to light provides insights into the evolution of complex visual systems.

Negative feedback signals within the substantia nigra regulate the output of the basal ganglia, with implications for disorders such as Parkinson's disease.