With more than 100 members, the neuroscience group is one of the fastest growing areas of Nature Network. It recently started an online journal club for neuroscientists to discuss the latest research and trends.
As with a traditional journal club, interesting papers from any journal are featured, beginning with an account of the paper by a student or postdoc in the neuroscience discipline concerned who was not involved in the work being discussed.
This journal club is designed to teach non-specialists about certain neuroscience subfields that may be of interest to them, as well as to highlight important findings for specialists. Participants ask questions about data and conclusions, or the implementation of particular methodologies; discuss why additional data would help solidify conclusions; and suggest next steps.
It is almost two months since the journal club began, and five papers have already been discussed. Topics range from delivering anaesthesia to manufacturing hair cells, as well as controversial debate about glia, flies and sexual preference.
Nature 452, x; 6 March 2008