Movie of the brain

2014/06/03 Kortabarria Olabarria, Beñardo - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Biologia
• Anatomia/Fisiologia

A team of researchers from the University of Vienna and MIT has created a system of images that gathers the activity of neurons of living beings. This is a pioneering technique that aims to help understand how neuronal networks process sensory information.

In the research sessions, worms and zebra fish Caenorhabditis elegans have been used. In the case of worms, the new image system collected the activity of each neuron, while in the case of zebra fish larvae, the activity of the whole brain was captured, in this way they have seen the activity of the nervous system as never before.

To create a new imaging system, scientists have relied on the electrical signals emitted by neurons. To manage sensations, emotions, orders, thoughts, etc., neurons emit electrical signals. In doing so, calcium ions are released. If we channel fluorescent proteins that bind to calcium, scientists are able to detect the electrical signals of neurons. So far, however, it has not been possible that as the activity of an entire brain has occurred, it is received in three dimensions. In this work, however, scientists, combining already existing technologies – special microscopes for obtaining lasers and laser-generated images – have managed to capture brain activity. They have also made a video.

This type of research is expected to help better understand the basics of nervous system diseases.