[jamesough]

What technology needs to be developed to get the data on synapses and neurotransmitters? A high-resolution Raman imaging microscope? And is a dead brain sufficient, or would you need a real-time noninvasive scan of a living one?

[davi]

In the fruit fly, neuronal cell types are highly morphologically stereotyped and identifiable across animals. This means that for a given cell type, you can collect data on electrical synapses in animal A, on transmitters in animal B, and on electrophysiology in animal C, and in this fashion assemble a unified, multimodal view of the parts involved. Our whole brain EM volume lets you see how those parts are connected.

In the above examples dead brains are okay except for electrophysiology, where the brain needs to be alive.

[jamesough]

Thanks. Can you recommend any books on these topics?