Source: TH
Context: Scientists have developed LICONN, a new technique for nanoscale brain mapping using light microscopes.
About LICONN (Light-Microscopy-Based Connectomics):
- What it is:
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- LICONN stands for Light-Microscopy-Based Connectomics, a cutting-edge imaging technique to map neuronal connections at the synapse level.
- Developed by researchers integrating hydrogel expansion, protein staining, and AI-based segmentation.
- Key Features:
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- Expands brain tissue up to 16 times using special hydrogels.
- Uses fluorescent tagging to highlight molecular features and deep learning for neural segmentation.
- Achieves nanoscale resolution using diffraction-limited light microscopy—earlier achievable only via electron microscopy.
- Applications:
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- Enables synapse-level connectome mapping for neuroscientific research.
- Facilitates molecular characterization of neural pathways.
- Can be widely adopted in brain disorder research, drug development, and understanding memory processing.
