Engineering approaches to illuminating brain structure and dynamics

Karl Deisseroth; Mark J Schnitzer

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2013.10.032

Engineering approaches to illuminating brain structure and dynamics

Neuron. 2013 Oct 30;80(3):568-77. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2013.10.032.

Authors

Karl Deisseroth¹, Mark J Schnitzer

Affiliation

¹ Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; CNC Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. Electronic address: deissero@stanford.edu.

Abstract

Historical milestones in neuroscience have come in diverse forms, ranging from the resolution of specific biological mysteries via creative experimentation to broad technological advances allowing neuroscientists to ask new kinds of questions. The continuous development of tools is driven with a special necessity by the complexity, fragility, and inaccessibility of intact nervous systems, such that inventive technique development and application drawing upon engineering and the applied sciences has long been essential to neuroscience. Here we highlight recent technological directions in neuroscience spurred by progress in optical, electrical, mechanical, chemical, and biological engineering. These research areas are poised for rapid growth and will likely be central to the practice of neuroscience well into the future.

Publication types

Historical Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Bioengineering*
Brain / anatomy & histology*
Brain / physiology*
History, 20th Century
History, 21st Century
Humans
Neurosciences / history
Neurosciences / methods*
Nonlinear Dynamics*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding