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Basket Case
02 July 2017

Basket Case

At first glance, there appears to be little difference between these two images. They both contain mouse nerve cells from a special part of the brain called the amygdala, which is thought to be important for forming emotional memories. And they both show a sprawling principal neuron (a type of nerve cell, highlighted yellow), connecting with a blue-coloured basket cell – another type of nerve cell. But that’s where the similarity ends. Detailed analysis has revealed that there are actually two distinct types of basket cells in the brain. One of them (left) makes a molecule called parvalbumin, while the other makes cholecystokinin. Each type forms a separate circuit of nerve cells in the brain which behave very differently, suggesting they have distinct functions in the amygdala. Teasing apart these complex networks is a tough job, but it helps us to understand how our brains work and how memories are made.

Written by Kat Arney

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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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