Huge congratulations to Brain's Editor-in-Chief Prof Masud Husain, newly elected Fellow of the Royal Society! www.ox.ac.uk/news/2026-05...
Brain
@brain1878.bsky.social
Brain has published landmark papers in clinical neurology and translational neuroscience since 1878.
Suppa et al. explore rigidity in Parkinson’s disease, highlighting inconsistencies in its definition and interpretation. They propose new approaches to better characterise its mechanisms and clinical impact. shorturl.at/33TYt
Using the connections of commissural neurons as an example, Lent et al. propose that expanded brain circuits may constitute a “connectomic reserve” that enables neuroplasticity to occur throughout life, and that may be a proxy for cognitive reserve. shorturl.at/5HNlS
Kollenburg et al. review the molecular mechanisms and regional activity patterns underlying conditions including migraine, cluster headache, and paroxysmal hemicrania, integrating basic and clinical perspectives. shorturl.at/fkKHg
The symbol for DNA is all around us, on advertising and in the news. Yet it is almost always drawn incorrectly. Elizabeth Fisher explains how it should be depicted, and why it is important that we get the famous double helix right. shorturl.at/D5P91
Donadio et al. show that the detection of phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in skin nerves is a highly reliable biomarker for the early identification of Parkinson’s disease. shorturl.at/iRKBE
González-Velasco et al. show that somatic mutations in known ALS genes are enriched in the motor cortex of patients with sporadic ALS, particularly in excitatory neurons. shorturl.at/eJiO9
Temporal lobe epilepsy has a complex genetic basis, but how genetic vulnerability leads to brain changes is unclear. Ngo et al. show that higher risk for TLE in healthy children is linked to brain thinning in key regions that mirror patterns in patients. shorturl.at/aVY2m
Soni argues that modern seizure classifications change too often, confusing clinicians and pts. Contrasting them with the stable, descriptive approaches of Hippocrates, Galen and Ibn Sina, she calls for simpler, enduring language to improve epilepsy care. shorturl.at/FKKeG
In a mouse model of focal ischaemia, Deng et al. show that extracellular vesicles released from the ischaemic penumbra carry pathogenic RNAs to remote regions, driving secondary degeneration beyond the infarct. shorturl.at/IUldF
Gradually, then suddenly: the precarious position of UK preclinical #neuroscience Professor Mark Walton’s new opinion piece in @brain1878.bsky.social highlights the funding and workforce pressures facing UK preclinical neuroscience. academic.oup.com/brain/advanc... #PreclinicalResearch
Gradually, then suddenly: the precarious position of UK preclinical neuroscience
Mark Walton argues that while the UK has a long and distinguished record of supporting brain research, this now risks being eroded by funding insufficienci
academic.oup.com
Huang et al. review the structure and functions of the perineuronal net, highlighting its roles in neuronal homeostasis, synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection, and its dysregulation in neurological and psychiatric disorders. shorturl.at/3gm2h
In patients with intractable epilepsy being considered for surgery, should thalamic sEEG be standard practice or should it remain within the domain of IRB-approved research? Four new Opinion articles in this month's issue explore the debate: shorturl.at/ki9Ax
Carletta et al. analysed brain tissue from people with ALS and found that increased activity of type-I interferon-stimulated genes was linked to faster disease progression, especially in C9orf72-related ALS. Blocking this pathway in a mouse model slowed progression. shorturl.at/TGiHW
Pruckner et al. show that the structural effects of neurosurgery extend beyond the resected tissue into connected networks through transneuronal degeneration. They were able to reliably predict these changes from preoperative MRI. shorturl.at/Dm3uE
The complexity of interpreting TSPO PET neuroimaging in first-episode psychosis New scientific commentary by Agnieszka Kalinowski & Lawrence Steinman shorturl.at/dqEO5
Latest issue of @brain1878.bsky.social out with a great set of Opinion pieces on the value and ethics of thalamic stereoEEG recordings in people with intractable epilepsy being considered for surgery.
Cardoso et al. review the conditions collectively termed Huntington’s disease phenocopies, in which Huntington’s disease is suspected but no HTT mutation is found. They discuss clinical features and underlying aetiologies with an emphasis on acquired causes. shorturl.at/qqYFE
Benina et al. evaluated the plasma pTau217/Aβ 1-42 ratio as a blood-based marker of AD pathology. The ratio improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced indeterminate results vs pTau217 alone, supporting its clinical utility for identifying amyloid positivity. shorturl.at/qBUS1
Over 125 years ago, Cécile & Oskar Vogt began assembling an extensive collection of brain histological sections and related documents. Katrin Amunts explores how digitizing these materials will create a valuable resource for modern neuroscience. shorturl.at/RaMw8
Vermorgen et al. examine tau aggregation in astrocytes in brains from middle-aged adults. They show that ARTAG (ageing-related tau astrogliopathy) is not restricted to elderly brains and is associated with neurodegenerative pathology. shorturl.at/NEYWB
Tsang et al. reviewed 13 studies combining TMS with intracranial EEG in humans and non-human primates. They found that stimulation can rapidly alter neuronal activity and connectivity, with some effects persisting for extended periods. tinyurl.com/yver3s93
Have you read an outstanding paper published in Brain Communications during 2025? Take note of it for the Early Career Researcher Paper Prize! Nominations are Open! #ecr #paperprize #neuroscience Link to form: buff.ly/8DWT8TV Find out more at: buff.ly/5WfBuCR
González-Velasco et al. show that somatic mutations in known ALS genes are enriched in the motor cortex of patients with sporadic ALS, particularly in excitatory neurons, and may contribute to disease initiation. tinyurl.com/24vx7shp
Multiple studies have shown a mismatch between EEG parameters and subjective sleep quality. Hauglund & Nedergaard argue that nightly clearance of brain waste via the glymphatic system may be crucial for the restorative properties of sleep. tinyurl.com/2ju4cyc6
Defining neurological disease is less objective than often assumed. Simon Shorvon considers how confusion between symptoms and disease, shifting criteria, unstable classifications, and complex aetiology can undermine the medical model. tinyurl.com/5n8anfsc
