title: The big and the small: challenges of imaging the brain's circuits.
abstract: The relation between the structure of the nervous system and its function is more poorly understood than the relation between structure and function in any other organ system. We explore why bridging the structure-function divide is uniquely difficult in the brain. These difficulties also explain the thrust behind the enormous amount of innovation centered on microscopy in neuroscience. We highlight some recent progress and the challenges that remain.
authors: Molecular and Cellular Biology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. jeff@mcb.harvard.edu
authors: Jeff W
authors: JW
authors: Lichtman
authors: Winfried
authors: W
authors: Denk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy; D009415:Nerve Net; D009434:Neural Pathways; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology