Brain and Shine

Trillions of connections between millions of neurons, processing an uncountable number of signals every second – thinking about the brain is enough to make your head hurt. Yet making sense of its complexities remains the dream of neuroscience. This 3D map of a mouse brain, part of the MouseLight project, shows neurons arranged in complex patterns, stretching their spindly branches, known as axons, across different brain regions. A bit like archaeologists revealing ancient artefacts layer by layer, researchers used sensitive microscopy to pick out fluorescence in genetically modified neurons on the brain’s surface, before shaving away a thin slice of the brain and repeating the process hundreds of times. A 3D picture of each neuron emerges. So far 300 cells are mapped – information that is free to access and will grow as more neurons are added to this dizzying puzzle of 70 million pieces.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image/video from the Janelia Research Campus, MouseLight project team
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Research Campus, Ashburn, VA, USA
• Image/video copyright held by the original authors