The Ups and Downs of BDNF in Rett Syndrome

The Ups and Downs of BDNF in Rett Syndrome

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked postnatal neurodevelopmental disorder, which is primarily caused by mutations in the gene encoding methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2). A number of MeCP2 target genes have been identified, including the neurotrophic factor BDNF; however, the functional relevance of these targets has not been established. In this issue of Neuron, Chang et al. provide the first...

Mdm2: the ups and downs.

Mdm2 was first described 12 years ago. Interest in this oncogene has risen since its identification as a protein that binds and efficiently inactivates the p53 tumor suppressor protein. This interest was further boosted by the discovery that the mdm2 gene is actually a target for direct transcriptional activation by p53, thus defining an autoregulatory feedback loop for the intracellular modula...

TRANSSENTENTIAL MEDITATIONS Ups and downs in dynamic semantics TRANSSENTENTIAL MEDITATIONS Ups and downs in dynamic semantics

The ups and downs of emotion regulation.

I n the article by Kross et al. (1) in this issue of Biological Psychiatry, the authors report results from a functional magnetic resonance imaging study that focuses on the use of cognitive strategies for affect regulation. Although the study was conducted in healthy individuals, the results as well as the general approach—which draws upon a body of work from basic social, cognitive, and affec...

The ups and downs of peer review.

This article traces the history of peer review of scientific publications, plotting the development of the process from its inception to its present-day application. We discuss the merits of peer review and its weaknesses, both perceived and real, as well as the practicalities of several major proposed changes to the system. It is our hope that readers will gain a better appreciation of the com...