Behind the NeuroArt #1 @ TheBeautifulBrain

Brain slice preparations, which make up the bulk of neural microcircuitry research to date, have greatly added to our understanding of how distinct neuronal cell types are connected in different parts of the brain. However this method is limited because it gives only a snapshot of a cold lifeless brain. That is, it can not show the relationship between connectivity and function in the intact functioning brain.

However a recently developed technique by researches at the Salk Institute which is being displayed at The Beautiful Brain promises to unleash a wealth of new understanding by opening up the functioning brain to traditional brain connectivity study. For the first time an analysis will be able to be made concerning the fine-scale connectivity of the brain in living organisms.

And it has all been made possible using a dash of fluorescence and smigin of Rabies virus.

Monosynaptic tracing rabies virus with EGFP gene | The Beautiful Brain