Brain clearance mechanisms are challenging to visualize in humans. Using magnetic resonance imaging, the authors noninvasively mapped cerebrospinal fluid motion across the brain, showing region-specific drivers in healthy participants and altered dynamics in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

This study shows that C9orf72 mutations impair immune activation in ALS, affecting how brain cells communicate, and highlights key differences in the cellular and molecular pathways underlying sporadic and genetic forms of the disease.

Padawer-Curry et al. show that the hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor agonist DOI alters neurovascular coupling in mice, with implications for the interpretation of human fMRI studies of psychedelics.

Lai et al. show a function of astrocytic Ca²⁺ in preventing synaptic depotentiation by reducing repetitive dendritic activity in the motor cortex during motor training, thereby contributing to learning-dependent neuronal circuit modification.

The authors show that deep brain stimulation (DBS) inhibits local neural activity via differential suppression of glutamate and GABA release, and they developed a chemogenetic therapy as a less invasive, cost-effective alternative to electrical DBS.

Brain clearance mechanisms are challenging to visualize in humans. Using magnetic resonance imaging, the authors noninvasively mapped cerebrospinal fluid motion across the brain, showing region-specific drivers in healthy participants and altered dynamics in cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

This study shows that C9orf72 mutations impair immune activation in ALS, affecting how brain cells communicate, and highlights key differences in the cellular and molecular pathways underlying sporadic and genetic forms of the disease.

Padawer-Curry et al. show that the hallucinogenic 5-HT2A receptor agonist DOI alters neurovascular coupling in mice, with implications for the interpretation of human fMRI studies of psychedelics.

Lai et al. show a function of astrocytic Ca²⁺ in preventing synaptic depotentiation by reducing repetitive dendritic activity in the motor cortex during motor training, thereby contributing to learning-dependent neuronal circuit modification.

Glioblastoma—the deadliest form of brain cancer—alters the calvarial bone and its marrow components, pushing it toward producing more myeloid cells and contributing to an immunosuppressive environment.

This Comment calls on scientists to acknowledge how insufficient communication and limited engagement beyond academia have deepened the divide between science and the public. Restoring trust requires a paradigm shift in which scientists accept that the responsibility to champion science lies with us. We propose a new model in which public communication and advocacy are considered as essential to our mission as rigor and reproducibility — critical not only for safeguarding science, but also for ensuring that its benefits reach all segments of the societies we serve.

The promise of genomics-focused neuroscience to improve health outcomes for Indigenous Peoples depends on ensuring more equitable data relationships though culturally appropriate data governance and the technical infrastructure to enable its implementation. Although ethical frameworks and legal policy mechanisms affirm Indigenous rights, there is a persistent gap in translating these commitments into practice. Here we discuss how embedding Indigenous data governance across research infrastructures and data ecosystems is needed to strengthen the field’s capacity to deliver beneficial outcomes for all.

Researchers’ access to scientific research findings remains inequitable owing to financial and geographical barriers, highlighting the need for more sustainable and inclusive modes of communication to complement existing journals and conferences. Free, online webinar platforms offer a powerful way to democratize scientific knowledge and support career development globally. Drawing from our experience building Open Box Science — a not-for-profit grassroots organization that has hosted over 250 webinars for audiences from more than 70 countries — and examining other successful initiatives, we share practical insights on how to build thriving communities for scientific exchange and call for the continuous support of such platforms. We also highlight how early-career scientists can leverage such platforms to expand their network and enrich their perspectives.