New Tissue Clearing Methods Offer a Window into the Brain

Researchers are developing a variety of approaches for clearing neural tissue to get a better view of the brain’s circuitry.

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The mammalian brain consists of billions of neurons wired together in various circuits, each one involved in specific physiological functions. To better understand how these different neurons and circuits are associated with mental activities and diseases, researchers are reconstructing detailed, three-dimensional maps of neural networks.

However, 3-D imaging of the mammalian brain is challenging. Light scatters as it travels through layers of tissue, dispersed by a variety of molecules such as water, lipids, and proteins. This reduces image resolution.

One way to improve resolution is to reduce the scattering. Researchers achieve this by first removing water and lipids from tissue. Next, chemicals are introduced that have a refractive index—a measure of how much the molecules bend light that passes through them—in the range of that of proteins. Establishing near-homogenous refractive indices in the molecules that populate the tissue environment allows light rays to converge to improve ...

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Meet the Author

  • Andy Tay

    Andy received his PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2014, focusing on neuromodulation and engineering. He subsequently completed his postdoctoral training at Stanford University, where he developed nanotechnologies for immuno-engineering. Andy is listed as a 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 (North America, Science) and is a freelance writer based in Singapore.

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