With the human brain being the most complex machine out there, a lot remains unexplained about it. Scientists insist that the known data of the human brain, is less than the unknown. But this imaging tool has enabled scientists to look into the brain in extreme close-up, and has made it possible to look into each cellular and even sub-cellular component clearly. This would greatly help with the better understanding of how signals travel in out brain (dendrites to axons to neuron) and other processes that not much focus has been given on.
Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine and Harvard University developed this imaging method which employs an automated tape-collecting device equipped with a diamond knife to obtain ultra-thin brain sections, which are then scanned under an electron microscope. Varied colours are allotted to different cellular components by a software generated by study co-author Daniel Berger.
The first test subject was an adult mouse. The sensory region associated with the mousse’s whiskers was studied. The neocortex of the mouse was zoomed into. The imaging tool allowed to see in clear detail, the synaptic clefts (space between neighbouring axon and dendrite). The neurotransmitter containing bag, called vesicles, were less than 40 nm in diameter. The sensitivity of the mouse’s whiskers proved to be more than those found in human fingertips!
Peter’s rule says that the connectivity between axons and dendrites could be inferred from their locations. This hypothesis has never been proved or disproved, even though the man responsible for it opposes it. The imaging tool has at last provided proof for the falsity of this hypothesis. Axons are of many types and may have one or even, three dendrites, which might have multiple synapses, instead of just one.
Narayanan “Bobby” Kasthuri, study’s first author, says “We had this clean idea of how there’s a really nice order to how neurons connect with each other,” he explains, “but if you actually look at the material it’s not like that. The connections are so messy that it’s hard to imagine a plan to it. But we checked, and there’s clearly a pattern that cannot be explained by randomness.”
Scientists have agreed on disagree on this new development, as much think it is a waste of money to explore something as enormous and infinite as the human brain. Others see it as a learning opportunity and that “there is no reason to stop until the results get boring”.
What do you think: Waste or asset? Leave your thoughts below!
Author:Technology Blog
