In Alzheimer’s disease, neurons are considered the sole source of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides that form plaques. Here the authors show that oligodendrocytes, the myelinating glial cells of the brain, also contribute to Aβ plaque burden alongside neurons.

What makes the brain maintain voluntary exercise despite attractive alternative options such as eating? Tesmer et al. show that orexin/hypocretin neurons are crucial for implementing the underlying valuation of eating versus running in mice.

Neuronal activity contributes to synapse formation and plasticity. Here the authors demonstrate that activity stimulates developmental programs to directly modulate synapse formation.

Ehret et al. uncover neural activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex that link sensory stimuli to learned behavioral responses by isolating interpretable activity patterns that are shared among mice performing the same task.

What makes the brain maintain voluntary exercise despite attractive alternative options such as eating? Tesmer et al. show that orexin/hypocretin neurons are crucial for implementing the underlying valuation of eating versus running in mice.

Neuronal activity contributes to synapse formation and plasticity. Here the authors demonstrate that activity stimulates developmental programs to directly modulate synapse formation.

In Alzheimer’s disease, neurons are considered the sole source of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides that form plaques. Here the authors show that oligodendrocytes, the myelinating glial cells of the brain, also contribute to Aβ plaque burden alongside neurons.

Astrocyte diversity is greatly influenced by local environmental modulation. Wang et al. report a critical role for astrocytic primary cilia in transmitting local cues that drive the region-specific diversification of astrocytes within the developing mouse brain.

Studying GnRH neuroendocrine cells in the mouse olfactory bulb (GnRH^OB neurons), Decoster et al. show that these cells respond to female odors and their activation regulates males’ female-odor preference and mating behavior.

Ehret et al. uncover neural activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex that link sensory stimuli to learned behavioral responses by isolating interpretable activity patterns that are shared among mice performing the same task.

In this special issue of Nature Neuroscience, we shine a spotlight on glia. Research into glia has become one of the most exciting and dynamic subfields of neuroscience, yet there is still much to be discovered about the diverse forms and functions of these cells.

As part of our special issue focused on glia, Nature Neuroscience is having conversations with both established leaders in the field and those earlier in their careers to discuss how the field has evolved and where it is heading. Here, we speak with Sonia Mayoral, the Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Assistant Professor of Neuroscience at Brown University in Providence, RI, USA. We spoke about her work on oligodendrocytes and their interactions with neurons, the importance of exploring glia in brain health and function, and her own academic journey and advice for early-career researchers.

As part of our special issue focused on glia, we are having conversations with both established leaders in the field and those earlier in their careers to discuss how the field has evolved and where it is heading. Here, we speak with Lucas Cheadle, assistant professor at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Freeman Hrabowski Scholar at Howard Hughes Medical Institute. We spoke about his passion for studying glia and synapses, and about his experiences as an Indigenous and transgender neuroscientist.