JNeurosci: Highlights From the March 1 Issue
Check out these newsworthy studies from the March 1, 2017, issue of JNeurosci. Media interested in obtaining the full text of the studies should contact media@sfn.org.
Selenium Supplement Helps Clear Toxic Alzheimer’s Protein From Brains of Mice
Within neurons, damaged organelles and proteins are broken down and scrapped for their molecular parts. Recent studies indicate this process — called autophagy — goes awry in Alzheimer’s disease, leading to the toxic buildup of amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles. In a new study in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers find selenium supplements improve memory and cognitive function by enhancing the autophagic breakdown of tau proteins. Selenium is a mineral found in the soil that naturally appears in water and some foods and has antioxidant properties.
Corresponding author: Guoli Song, lilys@szu.edu.cn
Memory Consolidation During Sleep May Strengthen Negative Memories in Social Anxiety Disorder
People with social anxiety disorder may have stronger memories of negative experiences than positive ones. During sleep, our brains replay recent memories, strengthening the underlying neural connections to produce long-lasting memories. In a new study in adolescents, researchers reveal how this may contribute to social anxiety disorder: Experimentally inducing memory replay during sleep makes negative memories feel more negative in adolescents with social anxiety disorder.
Corresponding author: Ines Wilhelm, ines.wilhelm@kispi.uzh.ch
The Journal of Neuroscience is published by the Society for Neuroscience, an organization of nearly 38,000 basic scientists and clinicians who study the brain and nervous system.
