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Enlightening
10 December 2017

Enlightening

Despite significant advances in our understanding, the workings of the brain remain mysterious. To peer inside this black box, a team of researchers recently carried out an extraordinary experiment: using genetic tools, they engineered the neurons of live mice to fluoresce in different colours when active, then implanted tiny microscopes onto their heads. This allowed them to watch the brain work while the mice socialised with each other. Shown here are activity patterns in the medial amygdala, an area of the brain involved in memory and emotion: the cells in green became active when the subject encountered a male mouse, while others responded to the presence of females (in red) or both sexes (in yellow). Monitoring the brain activity of these mice over several months showed that social interactions, such as mating, can change the way the brain responds, shining a new light on the neural basis of social behaviour.

Written by Emmanuelle Briolat

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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