The Journal Club

Stay on the cutting edge of science without reading every journal. The Journal Club is an AI-generated podcast powered by Google Notebook LM that delivers smart, engaging discussions on the latest research published in top-tier journals like Science, Nature Neuroscience, Cell, and more. Each episode synthesizes emerging scientific findings into concise, thought-provoking commentary—designed for researchers, students, and science enthusiasts who want to stay informed without the information overload.

The Science of Chocolate

Gopaulchan, D., Moore, C., Ali, N. et al. A defined microbial community reproduces attributes of fine flavour chocolate fermentation. Nat Microbiol (2025). https://doi-org.ccmain.ohionet.org/10.1038/s41564-025-02077-6

08-20
20:02

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Fear Learning and Memory

mWAKE in the Central Amygdala Regulates Fear Learning and MemoryJiali Xiong, Anuradha Mehta, Qiang Liu, Anna X. Luo, Pan P. Li, Patricia H. Janak, Mark N. WuJournal of Neuroscience 20 August 2025, e0225252025; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0225-25.2025

08-20
12:47

Your Brain's Invisible Shield: How Anticipation Primes Your Immune System

Trabanelli, S., Akselrod, M., Fellrath, J. et al. Neural anticipation of virtual infection triggers an immune response. Nat Neurosci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02008-y

08-11
17:18

Pancreas-Brain Feedback in Bipolar and Depression

Liu, YN., Wang, QW., She, XY. et al. A pancreas–hippocampus feedback mechanism regulates circadian changes in depression-related behaviors. Nat Neurosci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-025-02040-y

08-11
16:18

AMPA Receptor Activity and Myelinated Axon Loss in Neuroinflammation

Reduction of AMPA receptor activity on matureoligodendrocytes attenuates loss of myelinated axonsin autoimmune neuroinflammation

07-20
13:19

Targeting AMPA Receptors to Restore Synapses in Autoimmune Demyelination

Mey GM, Evonuk KS, Shelestak J, Irfan M, Wolfe LM, Laye SE, Schafer DP, DeSilva TM. Inhibiting AMPA receptor signaling in oligodendrocytes rescues synapse loss in a model of autoimmune demyelination. iScience. 2024 Oct 22;27(11):111226

07-19
13:38

The use of behavioral test batteries: effects of training history

McIlwain KL, Merriweather MY, Yuva-Paylor LA, Paylor R. The use of behavioral test batteries: effects of training history. Physiol Behav. 2001 Aug;73(5):705-17.

07-01
14:18

Human CLOCK's Role in Cognitive Flexibility

Liu, Y., Fontenot, M.R., Kulkarni, A. et al. Human CLOCK enhances neocortical function. Nat Neurosci (2025)

06-30
12:54

Unlocked a New Method of Treating Alzheimer's Disease and other Cognitive Decline

Neuronal glycogen breakdown mitigates tauopathy via pentose-phosphate-pathway-mediated oxidative stress reduction

06-30
14:20

The Neural Circuit Governing Sleep Homeostasis

Lee SS, Liu Q, Cheng AHR, Kim DW, Boudreau DM, Mehta A, Keles MF, Fejfer R, Palmer I, Park KH, Münzberg H, Harris TD, Graves AR, Blackshaw S, Wu MN. Sleep need-dependent plasticity of a thalamic circuit promotes homeostatic recovery sleep. Science. 2025 Jun 19

06-23
11:38

Olfactory Bulb and Memory Dysfunction in Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Parbst F, Kostka JK, Günther A, Chen YN, Hanganu-Opatz IL, Bitzenhofer SH. Developmental Olfactory Dysfunction and Abnormal Odor Memory in Immune-Challenged Disc1+/- Mice. J Neurosci. 2025 Jun 18

06-23
13:38

SCN GRPNs: Modulatory Role in Circadian Photic Entrainment

Li R, Inoue R, Mori H, Hirano A, Sakurai T. Functional Roles of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide-Producing Neurons in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus: Insights into Photic Entrainment and Circadian Regulation. J Neurosci. 2025 Jun 18

06-23
16:39

Hippocampal Ripples Decrease During Physical Actions in Rodents

Sakairi T, Kawabata M, Rios A, Sakai Y, Isomura Y. Hippocampal Sharp-Wave Ripples Decrease during Physical Actions Including Consummatory Behavior in Immobile Rodents. J Neurosci. 2025 Jun 18

06-23
15:30

DDX3X Mutations: Sex-Specific Effects on Brain Development

Mossa, A., Dierdorff, L., Lukin, J. et al. Sex-specific perturbations of neuronal development caused by mutations in the autism risk gene DDX3X. Nat Commun 16, 4512 (2025)

06-21
18:13

Autism and Social Avoidance: Neural Circuitry of Touch Discrimination

Chari, T., Hernandez, A., Couto, J. et al. A reduced ability to discriminate social from non-social touch at the circuit level may underlie social avoidance in autism. Nat Commun 16, 4600 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59852-6

06-20
12:34

Autism associated Chd8 Gene Duplication and Neurodevelopmental Defects in Mice

Kawamura, A., Fujii, K., Tamada, K. et al. Duplication of the autism-related gene Chd8 leads to behavioral hyperactivity and neurodevelopmental defects in mice. Nat Commun 16, 4641 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59853-5

06-20
12:50

Precision nutrition for Cardiometabolic Diseases

Guasch-Ferré, M., Wittenbecher, C., Palmnäs, M. et al. Precision nutrition for cardiometabolic diseases. Nat Med 31, 1444–1453 (2025)

06-16
17:16

Health impacts of exposure to synthetic chemicals in food

Muncke, J., Touvier, M., Trasande, L. et al. Health impacts of exposure to synthetic chemicals in food. Nat Med 31, 1431–1443 (2025)

06-16
26:16

How you breathe is like a fingerprint that can identify you

Soroka T, Ravia A, Snitz K, Honigstein D, Weissbrod A, Gorodisky L, Weiss T, Perl O, Sobel N. Humans have nasal respiratory fingerprints. Curr Biol. 2025 May 30

06-16
13:07

Microbiome Signatures of Parkinson’s Disease Revealed Through AI

Romano, S., Wirbel, J., Ansorge, R. et al. Machine learning-based meta-analysis reveals gut microbiome alterations associated with Parkinson’s disease. Nat Commun 16, 4227 (2025)

06-16
21:46

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