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The promises and challenges of neurotechnology

October 31, 2024

The promises and challenges of neurotechnology

Neurotechnology offers unprecedented opportunities to treat neural disorders, restore brain function and enhance cognitive abilities. However, its vast potential is matched by significant scientific, technological and ethical challenges. This PLOS Biology collection explores the present and possible futures of neurotechnology to improve human health and cognition.

Image credit: Pixabay user Gerd Altmann

PLOS Biologue

Community blog for PLOS Biology, PLOS Genetics and PLOS Computational Biology.

PLOS BIOLOGUE

10/31/2024

Research Article

Autism gene RBM27 and mitoribosomal assembly

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism or ADHD. Tamjid Chowdhury, Christopher Quinn and colleagues show that an ortholog of the autism-candidate gene RBM27 protects against axonal defects by negatively regulating the expression of the mitoribosomal assembly factor MALS-1.

Image credit: Tamjid Chowdhury

Autism gene RBM27 and mitoribosomal assembly

Recently Published Articles

Current Issue

Current Issue September 2024

10/31/2024

Methods and Resources

Recording the human spinal cord

Whilst spinal recording techniques are routinely developed for use in experimental animals, methods to interrogate human spinal cord function are lacking. Birgit Nierula, Vadim Nikulin, Falk Eippert and co-workers develop a non-invasive electrospinography approach that can directly record spinal cord activity with high precision.

Image credit: pbio.3002828

Recording the human spinal cord

10/31/2024

Short Reports

PolyP in the α-synuclein fibril core

Previous cryo-EM structures of synucleinopathy patient-derived α-synuclein fibrils revealed a ‘mystery density’ at the core of the protofilaments. Philipp Huettemann, Pavithra Mahadevan, Bikash Sahoo, Ursula Jakob and co-authors identify polyphosphate as this density, which binds a lysine-rich pocket and contributes to fiber stabilization.

Image credit: Pavithra Mahadevan

PolyP in the α-synuclein fibril core

10/30/2024

Short Reports

Microglial cannibalism

The microglia population is considered long-lived. Hannah Gordon, Zachary Schafer and Cody Smith demonstrate that individual embryonic microglia die within three days of clearing neural debris and are cannibalized by existing microglia, paradoxically leading to additional microglial death. Don't miss the accompanying Primer by Chris Bennett and Mariko Bennett.

Microglial cannibalism

Image credit: Hannah Gordon

10/28/2024

Methods and Resources

Monitoring synaptic protein traffick

The fast dynamics of synaptic vesicle release present a challenge for the quantification of synaptic protein translocation during neuronal activity. Carlos Pascual-Caro and Jaime de Juan-Sanz present a method for quantifying the translocation of endogenous neuronal proteins to the synaptic surface and visualize the translocation of proteins of interest when neurons are firing.

Monitoring synaptic protein traffick

Image credit: pbio.3002860

10/28/2024

Research Article

Chemerin binding to GPR1

GPR1 is a chemerin receptor, but whether Gi signaling is elicited upon binding to the chemerin adipokine remains unclear. Aijun Liu, Yezhou Liu, Geng Chen, Wenping Lyu, Lizhe Zhu, Yang Du, Richard Ye and colleagues report a cryo-EM structural analysis of the GPR1-Gi complex bound to chemerin, confirming Gi signaling and a ‘two-site’ activation mechanism.

Chemerin binding to GPR1

Image credit: Yezhou Liu

10/30/2024

Editorial

The promises and challenges of neurotechnology

Simon Hanslmayr introduces a Collection which explores the present and possible futures of neurotechnology, as well as the scientific, technological and ethical challenges they face.


The promises and challenges of neurotechnology

Image credit: Pixabay user Gerd Altmann

10/29/2024

Essay

The future of transcranial ultrasound

TUS is a promising non-invasive solution to interface with specific brain regions with high precision. This Essay explores the challenges and proposes a roadmap for the evolution of TUS from a research tool to a clinically validated therapeutic.

The future of transcranial ultrasound

Image credit: pbio.3002884

10/29/2024

Perspective

Closing the sensory feedback loop

This Perspective discusses how closing the sensory feedback loop in brain implants and nerve electrodes for stimulation may improve rehabilitation and assistive systems for patients.

Closing the sensory feedback loop

Image credit: pbio.3002866

10/28/2024

Essay

Ethics of brain–computer interfaces for cognition

The use of invasive brain-computer interfaces holds great potential for medical applications, but this Essay explores the ethical, scientific and practical challenges posed by the use of this technology for cognitive enhancement.

Ethics of brain–computer interfaces for cognition

Image credit: pbio.3002899

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