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- Title
Neuroscience: Making connections.
- Authors
Lehrer, Jonah
- Abstract
The article discusses the creation of a brain-slicing machine invented by cell biologist Jeff Lichtman and Kenneth Hayworth that exposes the brain's circuitry via fluorescent proteins. The machine which is called the automatic tape-collecting lathe ultramicrotome (ATLUM) resembles a two-reeled film projector with a fixed diamond blade in its center. The blade continuously cuts a rotating mouse brain, much like an apple parer, and wraps it around the plastic film which is spinning around the spools. Topics include a discussion on the scientific potential of ATLUM such as finding the causes of autism and schizophrenia, the debate regarding the applicability of the method in ascertaining what connections drive neuronal activity, and an in-depth analysis of Lichtman's Brainbow study.
- Subjects
BRAIN research; NEURAL circuitry; BRAIN physiology; TECHNOLOGICAL innovations; FLUORESCENCE; LICHTMAN, Jeff; AUTISM; SCHIZOPHRENIA
- Publication
Nature, 2009, Vol 457, Issue 7229, p524
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/457524a