This confocal image shows GABAergic synapses (green) impinging on neurons at avian cochlear nucleus (red), which were immunostained with antibodies against vesicular GABA transporter and microtubule associated protein 2, respectively. The number and strength of GABAergic synapses in these neurons are coordinated with the characteristics of excitatory synapses and postsynaptic neurons, ensuring precise and reliable encoding of sound for wide frequency and intensity ranges. For more information, see the article by Al-Yaari et al. (pages 8904–8916). Cover image: Rei Yamada and Daiya Kondo.