A comprehensive analysis of neural circuits is important to understand the mechanism with which neurons achieve cognitive brain function, such as perception, attention and memory. Some worldwide projects to reveal "connectome", the wiring diagram of neural circuits in brain, started almost 10 years ago. Various technologies, such as three-dimensional reconstruction of neural tissue by electron microscopy, CLEM (correlative light- and electron- microscopy) and tissue clearing, to elucidate the three-dimensional architecture of the neural circuits have made a lot of progress during this decade. On the other hand, "synaptome" analysis, a comprehensive approach to describe the diversity of synapses in the central nervous system, from molecular and morphological aspects, has also made great strides recently.
In this Research Topic, we would like to focus on the technologies which are recently developed and are related to the comprehensive analysis of neural circuits, such as three-dimensional reconstruction of neural tissue either by light or electron microscopy, CLEM (correlative light- and electron- microscopy) and tissue clearing and synaptome analysis. Not only the experimental approach but also computational approaches, such as the auto-segmentation of electron microscope images by machine learning, should be included. Genome research to reveal the comprehensive analysis of gene expression pattern in the brain can also be the target of this Research Topic. Though these articles come from a relatively wide background, we hope that the readers can obtain not only useful information to proceed with their own projects but also to create new technologies for connectomical approaches, by combining various technologies introduced in this Research Topic. All article types accepted by the Journal are welcome for submission, including original research and reviews.
A comprehensive analysis of neural circuits is important to understand the mechanism with which neurons achieve cognitive brain function, such as perception, attention and memory. Some worldwide projects to reveal "connectome", the wiring diagram of neural circuits in brain, started almost 10 years ago. Various technologies, such as three-dimensional reconstruction of neural tissue by electron microscopy, CLEM (correlative light- and electron- microscopy) and tissue clearing, to elucidate the three-dimensional architecture of the neural circuits have made a lot of progress during this decade. On the other hand, "synaptome" analysis, a comprehensive approach to describe the diversity of synapses in the central nervous system, from molecular and morphological aspects, has also made great strides recently.
In this Research Topic, we would like to focus on the technologies which are recently developed and are related to the comprehensive analysis of neural circuits, such as three-dimensional reconstruction of neural tissue either by light or electron microscopy, CLEM (correlative light- and electron- microscopy) and tissue clearing and synaptome analysis. Not only the experimental approach but also computational approaches, such as the auto-segmentation of electron microscope images by machine learning, should be included. Genome research to reveal the comprehensive analysis of gene expression pattern in the brain can also be the target of this Research Topic. Though these articles come from a relatively wide background, we hope that the readers can obtain not only useful information to proceed with their own projects but also to create new technologies for connectomical approaches, by combining various technologies introduced in this Research Topic. All article types accepted by the Journal are welcome for submission, including original research and reviews.
