Feedback needs experience.

Visual perception requires aligned feedforward and feedback processing, yet the role of experience remains unclear. The study by Dias et al. in this issue of Neuron shows that the retinotopic organization of orientation-tuned feedback from higher to primary visual cortex is learned in mice.

Super-resolution STED imaging in the inner and outer whole-mount mouse retina.

Since its invention, super-resolution microscopy has become a popular tool for advanced imaging of biological structures, allowing visualisation of subcellular structures at a spatial scale below the diffraction limit. Thus, it is not surprising that recently, different super-resolution techniques are being applied in neuroscience, e.g.

A Rationally and Computationally Designed Fluorescent Biosensor for d-Serine.

Solute-binding proteins (SBPs) have evolved to balance the demands of ligand affinity, thermostability, and conformational change to accomplish diverse functions in small molecule transport, sensing, and chemotaxis. Although the ligand-induced conformational changes that occur in SBPs make them useful components in biosensors, they are challenging targets for protein engineering and design. Here, we have engineered a d-alanine-specific SBP into a fluorescence biosensor with specificity for the signaling molecule d-serine (D-serFS).

Treatment of health complaints attributed to amalgam.

The aim of the present study was to compare the reduction of subjective complaints by 3 treatment strategies in 90 "amalgam patients" whose complaints could not be explained by a medical or psychological disorder. The individuals were randomly assigned either to removal of dental amalgam only (removal group), or removal in combination with a "biological detoxification" therapy with high doses of vitamins and trace elements (removal-plus group), or participation in a health promotion program without removal of dental amalgam (no-removal group). Between baseline and month 12, the sum score of main complaints decreased by 3.

Biomonitoring of mercury in patients with complaints attributed to dental amalgam, healthy amalgam bearers, and amalgam-free subjects: a diagnostic study.

Objective: To investigate the suitability of measurements of mercury (Hg) concentration as a means of identifying patients with health complaints attributed to dental amalgam.

Methods: Hg in erythrocytes, plasma, urine, and saliva was determined in 27 patients complaining about health problems attributed to amalgam, 27 healthy volunteers with amalgam fillings, and 27 healthy amalgam-free volunteers.

Results: Concentrations of inorganic mercury in blood and of total mercury in urine and saliva differed significantly between individuals with amalgam fillings and amalgam-free volunteers, but not between symptomatic patients and healthy volunteers with amalgam fillings.