The New York Times examines the brain–up close.
Cerebellar Purkinje neurons, 2003. This photomicrograph shows a portion of the cerebellum in which only one type of neuron — its Purkinje cells — has been illuminated by a genetically encoded fluorescent protein; meanwhile, other classes of neighboring neurons that would have clouded the view have been left invisible. Credit: Aric Agmon
Chick retina, 2008. This photomicrograph of a chick’s retina was produced using an antibody staining, which harnesses the exquisite precision and sensitivity of antibodies to recognize specific biological molecules. At the top of the image are the retina’s photoreceptor cells (in gray) — the familiar rods and cones that capture photons of light and translate them into electrical signals that the brain can understand. Credit: Andy Fischer
Spiny neuron, 2009. This is a photomicrograph of many axons (issued from neurons growing in a dish). The swellings that bud off of them, called presynaptic boutons, form one half of the synapse — the connection between two neurons. Credit: Thomas Deerinck and Mark Ellisman
