SfN Journals

Sensory-Cell Population Integrity Required to Preserve Minimal and Normal Vestibulo-ocular Reflexes Reveals the Critical Role of Type I Hair Cells in Canal- and Otolith-Specific Functions Vestibular dysfunction constitutes a major medical concern, and regeneration of hair cells (HCs) is a primary target of gene therapy aimed at restoring vestibular functions. Thus far, therapeutic trials in animal models targeting vestibular loss associated with genetic diseases have yielded variable and partial results, and the functional identity and quantity of HCs required to restore minimal or normal vestibular function remain undefined. Indeed, direct comparisons between structural pathology and quantitative assessments of vestibular dysfunctions are lacking in humans and are rather limited in animal models, representing a significant gap in current knowledge. Here, we present an innovative methodology to bridge the gap between HC integrity and functional vestibular loss in individual mice of either sex. Gradual vestibular deficits were induced through a dose-dependent ototoxic lesion, quantified with canal or utricular-specific vestibulo-ocular reflex tests, and were then correlated in all individuals with the loss of type I and type II HCs in different regions of ampulla and macula. Our findings reveal that the structure–function relationship is nonlinear, with lower bound of ∼50% of HCs necessary to retain minimal vestibular function, and threshold exceeding 80% to preserve normal function, thus shedding light on population coding mechanisms for vestibular response. Our data further support the decisive role of type I, rather than type II, HC in the tested VOR functions.

#eNeuro | Sensory-Cell Population Integrity Required to Preserve Minimal and Normal Vestibulo-ocular Reflexes Reveals the Critical Role of Type I Hair Cells in Canal- and Otolith-Specific Functions
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0303-25.2026

#eNeuro | Hierarchical Distribution of Reward Representation in the Cortical and Hippocampal Regions
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0256-25.2026

This Week in The Journal #JNeurosci | A Brain Marker for Higher Intelligence in Children; A Subcortical Hub for Naming Objects
https://www.jneurosci.org/content/46/9/etwij4692026

#eNeuro | Cell Analyser in Batch for Neurite (CABaNe), an Automated, High-Throughput ImageJ Macro for Cell and Neurite Analysis
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0193-25.2025

#JNeurosci: Carvalheiro et al performed 3 studies exploring the relationship between punishments & money-related reward learning in a gambling task, finding punishments may promote reward learning by targeting activity in a reward-related brain area https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1631-25.2026

Register now for the next #ResearchInConversation webinar on March 12, noon EDT
🔗 Register: https://neuronline.sfn.org/scientific-research/the-serotonin-1b-receptor
📄 Read the #JNeurosci paper: https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0413-25.2026

SfN logo. Elsevier logo. Webinar title: The Benefits of Peer Review. Date/time: Tuesday, March 17, noon-1 p.m. EDT. Panelist: Laura Colgin, PhD. Professor, The University of Texas at Austin. Co-Editor-in-Chief, Progress in Neurobiology. Senior Editor, eLife.

How can being a reviewer serve the scientific community and your career?

Attend this upcoming webinar to hear from an experienced reviewer and editor on how serving as a reviewer helped her grow professionally and other benefits.

Register now! vist.ly/4tjb4

#neurosky #academicchatter

“A Fundamentally Human Endeavor”: Read Volume 13 of #HistoryOfNeuroscience, a collection of autobiographical chapters detailing the lives and discoveries of eminent neuroscientists.
https://www.sfn.org/about/history-of-neuroscience/autobiographical-chapters#volume13

#eNeuro | What Is My Neuron Doing? Commentary on Huang et al. (2026)
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0049-26.2026

New in #JNeurosci from Mainetto et al: Expectations shape how much people enjoy beverages containing sugar or artificial sweetener differently.
https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1121-25.2026

New in #JNeurosci: Rat study from van Mourik et al. suggests that the anterior insula may be involved in biasing decision-making processes to favor alcohol over social rewards. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1180-25.2026

eNeuro and JNeurosci logos. SfN Journals: In Conversation. The Serotonin 1B Receptor Modulates Striatal Activity Differently Based on Behavioral Context. Thursday, March 12, noon-1 p.m. EDT. Headshot of Katherine Nautiyal, Dartmouth College.

Explore how serotonin signaling shapes striatal circuitry based on the ongoing behavior in this upcoming #ResearchInConversation webinar.

Register now and submit your questions or ask them live!

🔗: vist.ly/4sypq

#neurosky #neuroskyence #academicchatter

#eNeuro | TriNet-MTL: A Multi-Branch Deep Learning Framework for Biometric Identification and Cognitive State Inference from Auditory-Evoked EEG
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0265-25.2025

#eNeuro | sAPPα Inhibits Neurite Outgrowth in Primary Mouse Neurons via GABA B Receptor Subunit 1a
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0345-25.2026

#eNeuro | Population-Level Age Effects on the White Matter Structure Subserving Cognitive Flexibility in the Human Brain
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0179-25.2025

#eNeuro offers authors the choice to receive double-anonymous review. The Reviewing Editor & 2 reviewers will consult to reach a consensus on the decision & draft a synthesis of reviewers' comments that are published with each accepted paper. Learn more: https://www.eneuro.org/content/overview

#eNeuro | When Familiar Faces Feel Better: A Framework for Social Neurocognitive Aging in a Rat Model
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0422-25.2025

An Open-Source Restraint System for Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Awake Rats Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a critical tool for translational neuroscience, but preclinical studies frequently rely on anesthesia, which alters neural activity and limits comparison with human...

Excited to share this in final form @sfnjournals.bsky.social: An Open-Source Restraint System for Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Awake Rats www.eneuro.org/content/13/2... if anyone wants to try doing it, give us a call! Happy to help you get going!

#eNeuro Commentary | Experimental Designs for Preclinical Neuroscience Experiments: Part 2—Blocking and Blocked Designs
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0006-26.2026

The Journal of Neuroscience: 46 (8)

Very excited to share a Special Collection at the Journal of Neuroscience (@sfnjournals.bsky.social) - Central Questions for Social Neuroscience Research. This issue includes some of the latest perspectives on social neuroscience research. Please check it out!👇

www.jneurosci.org/content/46/8

#eNeuro Commentary | Experimental Designs for Preclinical Neuroscience Experiments: Part I—Design Basics
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0007-26.2026

#JNeurosci: Training to become a birder requires perception, attention & memory that reorganizes the structure & activity of the brain. As experts age, distinct brain areas show changes relative to novices that may benefit cognition https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1307-25.2026

“We always really welcome the feedback that our authors may have.” Editor-in-Chief Sabine Kastner highlights how important feedback is to the editorial board at #JNeurosci.

#eNeuro | Independent Encoding of Orientation and Mean Luminance by Mouse Visual Cortex
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0281-25.2025

Introducing the #JNeurosci special collection, Central Questions for Social Neuroscience Research, published in today's issue. Read the commentary from Steve Chang and Patricia Lockwood.
vist.ly/4svwq

The tuned cortex: Convergent expertise-related structural and functional remodeling across the adult lifespan Neuroplasticity is a defining property of the brain. Structural and functional brain changes arise soon after learning and are particularly evident following years of practice that underpin expert per...

Link correction: doi.org/10.1523/JNEU...

This Week in The Journal #JNeurosci | Neuron Ensembles May Promote Thalamocortical Activity; Sleep Supports Generalizing Information from Experiences
https://www.jneurosci.org/content/46/8/etwij4682026

#eNeuro Research Highlights | The Novel Progressive Ratio with Reset Task Reveals Adaptive Effort-Delay Trade-Offs
https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0467-25.2026

Discover new content faster with #eNeuro alerts. https://www.eneuro.org/alerts

Register now for the next #ResearchInConversation webinar on March 12, noon EDT
🔗 Register: https://neuronline.sfn.org/scientific-research/the-serotonin-1b-receptor
📄 Read the #JNeurosci paper: https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0413-25.2026