Mechanical constraints imposed by anatomical adaptations are a ubiquitous feature of animal sound production. They can give rise to ‘vocal predispositions’ (i.e., acoustic structures strictly determined by vocal anatomy). Such predispositions are crucial to the investigation of the cognitive and evolutionary processes underlying acoustic communication in vertebrates, including human speech. Read Full Article (External Site) […]

All vertebrate brains contain a dense matrix of thin fibers that release serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine), a neurotransmitter that modulates a wide range of neural, glial, and vascular processes. Perturbations in the density of this matrix have been associated with a number of mental disorders, including autism and depression, but its self-organization and plasticity remain poorly understood. […]

The accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein are central to Parkinson’s disease (PD), yet the molecular mechanisms responsible for these events are not fully understood. Post-translational modifications of α-synuclein regulate several of its properties, including degradation, interaction with proteins and membranes, aggregation and toxicity. SUMOylation is a post-translational modification involved in various nuclear and extranuclear processes, […]