A technicolour approach to the connectome.
A central aim of neuroscience is to map neural circuits, in order to learn how they account for mental activities and behaviours and how alterations in them lead to neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, the methods that are currently available for visualizing circuits have severe limitations that make it extremely difficult to extract precise wiring diagrams from histological images. Here we review recent advances in this area, along with some of the opportunities that these advances present and the obstacles that remain.
Lichtman
Jeff W
JW
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. jeff@mcb.harvard.edu
Livet
Jean
J
Sanes
Joshua R
JR
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006801:Humans; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D019076:Transgenes
D004396:Coloring Agents; D008164:Luminescent Proteins