A group of American researchers has presented a new technology for imaging the soft tissues of the brain.With her
Researchers have developed for the new devicea special set of gradient coils that are 100 times stronger than those in a clinical MRI machine. To process a large amount of data, a high-performance computer equivalent to almost 800 laptops is used, which runs at full capacity to display one brain.
Super-resolution microscopy of a mouse brain. Video: Duke University
After completing the brain scan,researchers analyze tissues using light sheet microscopy. With this method, scientists label specific groups of cells throughout the brain. For example, cells that produce dopamine can be isolated to monitor the progression of Parkinson's disease.
Researchers combine data fromusing two analysis methods to get the most accurate picture of cells and circuits throughout the brain. In a series of experiments, they observed how brain-wide connections change with age in mice. This study showed, among other things, that areas associated with memory change more than the rest of the brain. In another experiment, the researchers analyzed the deterioration of neural networks in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
The authors of the development note that although the technologytested in mice, advanced MRI provides an important new way to visualize brain connections at record-breaking resolution. Analysis in animal models will improve understanding of how the brain works and changes associated with age and neurodegenerative diseases in humans.
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Cover: A detailed scan of a mouse brain. Image: Duke’s Center for In Vivo Microscopy