bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Aug. 5, 2021
Abstract
3D
electron
microscopy
(EM)
has
been
successful
at
mapping
invertebrate
nervous
systems,
but
the
approach
limited
to
small
chunks
of
mammalian
brains.
To
scale
up
larger
volumes,
we
have
built
a
computational
pipeline
for
processing
petascale
image
datasets
acquired
by
serial
section
EM,
popular
form
EM.
The
employs
convolutional
nets
compute
nonsmooth
transformations
required
align
images
sections
containing
numerous
cracks
and
folds,
detect
neuronal
boundaries,
label
voxels
as
axon,
dendrite,
soma,
other
semantic
categories,
synapses
assign
them
presynaptic
postsynaptic
segments.
output
boundary
detection
is
segmented
mean
affinity
agglomeration
with
size
constraints.
Pipeline
operations
are
implemented
leveraging
distributed
cloud
computing.
Intermediate
results
held
in
storage,
can
be
effortlessly
viewed
images,
which
aids
debugging.
We
applied
create
an
automated
reconstruction
EM
volume
spanning
four
visual
cortical
areas
mouse
brain.
Code
publicly
available,
reconstructed
volume.
The
neural
circuits
responsible
for
animal
behavior
remain
largely
unknown.
We
summarize
new
methods
and
present
the
circuitry
of
a
large
fraction
brain
fruit
fly
Drosophila
melanogaster
.
Improved
include
procedures
to
prepare,
image,
align,
segment,
find
synapses
in,
proofread
such
data
sets.
define
cell
types,
refine
computational
compartments,
provide
an
exhaustive
atlas
examples
many
them
novel.
detailed
consisting
neurons
their
chemical
most
central
brain.
make
public
simplify
access,
reducing
effort
needed
answer
circuit
questions,
linking
defined
by
our
analysis
with
genetic
reagents.
Biologically,
we
examine
distributions
connection
strengths,
motifs
on
different
scales,
electrical
consequences
compartmentalization,
evidence
that
maximizing
packing
density
is
important
criterion
in
evolution
fly’s
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: May 30, 2021
Abstract
We
acquired
a
rapidly
preserved
human
surgical
sample
from
the
temporal
lobe
of
cerebral
cortex.
stained
1
mm
3
volume
with
heavy
metals,
embedded
it
in
resin,
cut
more
than
5000
slices
at
∼30
nm
and
imaged
these
sections
using
high-speed
multibeam
scanning
electron
microscope.
used
computational
methods
to
render
three-dimensional
structure
containing
57,216
cells,
hundreds
millions
neurites
133.7
million
synaptic
connections.
The
1.4
petabyte
microscopy
volume,
segmented
cell
parts,
blood
vessels,
myelin,
inhibitory
excitatory
synapses,
104
manually
proofread
cells
are
available
peruse
online
.
Many
interesting
unusual
features
were
evident
this
dataset.
Glia
outnumbered
neurons
2:1
oligodendrocytes
most
common
type
volume.
Excitatory
spiny
comprised
69%
neuronal
population,
synapses
also
majority
(76%).
drive
onto
was
biased
strongly
toward
excitation
(70%)
case
for
interneurons
(48%).
Despite
incompleteness
automated
segmentation
caused
by
split
merge
errors,
we
could
automatically
generate
(and
then
validate)
connections
between
neuron
types
both
within
layers.
In
studying
found
that
deep
layer
can
be
classified
into
new
subsets,
based
on
structural
connectivity
differences,
chandelier
not
only
innervate
initial
segments
as
previously
described,
but
each
other’s
segments.
Furthermore,
among
thousands
weak
established
neuron,
there
exist
rarer
highly
powerful
axonal
inputs
establish
multi-synaptic
contacts
(up
∼20
synapses)
target
neurons.
Our
analysis
indicates
strong
specific,
allow
small
numbers
axons
have
an
outsized
role
activity
some
their
postsynaptic
partners.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
119(48)
Published: Nov. 23, 2022
Neurons
in
the
developing
brain
undergo
extensive
structural
refinement
as
nascent
circuits
adopt
their
mature
form.
This
physical
transformation
of
neurons
is
facilitated
by
engulfment
and
degradation
axonal
branches
synapses
surrounding
glial
cells,
including
microglia
astrocytes.
However,
small
size
phagocytic
organelles
complex,
highly
ramified
morphology
glia
have
made
it
difficult
to
define
contribution
these
other
cell
types
this
crucial
process.
Here,
we
used
large-scale,
serial
section
transmission
electron
microscopy
(TEM)
with
computational
volume
segmentation
reconstruct
complete
3D
morphologies
distinct
mouse
visual
cortex,
providing
unprecedented
resolution
composition.
Unexpectedly,
discovered
that
fine
processes
oligodendrocyte
precursor
cells
(OPCs),
a
population
abundant,
dynamic
progenitors,
frequently
surrounded
axons.
Numerous
phagosomes
phagolysosomes
(PLs)
containing
fragments
axons
vesicular
structures
were
present
inside
processes,
suggesting
OPCs
engage
axon
pruning.
Single-nucleus
RNA
sequencing
from
cortex
revealed
express
key
genes
at
stage,
well
neuronal
transcripts,
consistent
active
engulfment.
Although
are
thought
be
responsible
for
majority
synaptic
pruning
refinement,
PLs
ten
times
more
abundant
than
markedly
less
newly
generated
oligodendrocytes,
contribute
substantially
during
cortical
development.
Learning
from
experience
depends
at
least
in
part
on
changes
neuronal
connections.
We
present
the
largest
map
of
connectivity
to
date
between
cortical
neurons
a
defined
type
(layer
2/3
[L2/3]
pyramidal
cells
mouse
primary
visual
cortex),
which
was
enabled
by
automated
analysis
serial
section
electron
microscopy
images
with
improved
handling
image
defects
(250
×
140
90
μm3
volume).
used
identify
constraints
learning
algorithms
employed
cortex.
Previous
studies
modeled
continuum
synapse
sizes
log-normal
distribution.
A
is
consistent
most
neural
network
models
learning,
synaptic
strength
continuously
graded
analog
variable.
Here,
we
show
that
size,
when
restricted
synapses
L2/3
cells,
well
sum
binary
variable
and
an
drawn
Two
sharing
same
presynaptic
postsynaptic
are
known
be
correlated
size.
variables
two
highly
correlated,
while
not.
Binary
variation
could
outcome
Hebbian
or
other
plasticity
rule
depending
activity
signals
relatively
uniform
across
arbors,
may
dominated
influences
such
as
spontaneous
dynamical
fluctuations.
discuss
implications
for
longstanding
hypothesis
activity-dependent
switches
bistable
states.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 24, 2023
Mammalian
cortex
features
a
vast
diversity
of
neuronal
cell
types,
each
with
characteristic
anatomical,
molecular
and
functional
properties.
Synaptic
connectivity
powerfully
shapes
how
type
participates
in
the
cortical
circuit,
but
mapping
rules
at
resolution
distinct
types
remains
difficult.
Here,
we
used
millimeter-scale
volumetric
electron
microscopy
1
to
investigate
all
inhibitory
neurons
across
densely-segmented
population
1352
cells
spanning
layers
mouse
visual
cortex,
producing
wiring
diagram
connections
more
than
70,000
synapses.
Taking
data-driven
approach
inspired
by
classical
neuroanatomy,
classified
based
on
relative
targeting
dendritic
compartments
other
developed
novel
classification
excitatory
morphological
synaptic
input
The
between
revealed
class
disinhibitory
specialist
basket
cells,
addition
familiar
subclasses.
Analysis
onto
found
widespread
specificity,
many
interneurons
exhibiting
differential
certain
subpopulations
spatially
intermingled
potential
targets.
Inhibitory
was
organized
into
“motif
groups,”
diverse
sets
that
collectively
target
both
perisomatic
same
Collectively,
our
analysis
identified
new
organizing
principles
for
inhibition
will
serve
as
foundation
linking
modern
multimodal
atlases
diagram.
Nature,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
640(8058), P. 435 - 447
Published: April 9, 2025
Abstract
Understanding
the
brain
requires
understanding
neurons’
functional
responses
to
circuit
architecture
shaping
them.
Here
we
introduce
MICrONS
connectomics
dataset
with
dense
calcium
imaging
of
around
75,000
neurons
in
primary
visual
cortex
(VISp)
and
higher
areas
(VISrl,
VISal
VISlm)
an
awake
mouse
that
is
viewing
natural
synthetic
stimuli.
These
data
are
co-registered
electron
microscopy
reconstruction
containing
more
than
200,000
cells
0.5
billion
synapses.
Proofreading
a
subset
yielded
reconstructions
include
complete
dendritic
trees
as
well
local
inter-areal
axonal
projections
map
up
thousands
cell-to-cell
connections
per
neuron.
Released
open-access
resource,
this
includes
tools
for
retrieval
analysis
1,2
.
Accompanying
studies
describe
its
use
comprehensive
characterization
cell
types
3–6
,
synaptic
level
connectivity
diagram
cortical
column
4
uncovering
cell-type-specific
inhibitory
can
be
linked
gene
expression
4,7
Functionally,
identify
new
computational
principles
how
information
integrated
across
space
8
characterize
novel
neuronal
invariances
9
bring
structure
function
together
uncover
general
principle
between
excitatory
within
10,11
Nature,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
640(8058), P. 448 - 458
Published: April 9, 2025
Mammalian
cortex
features
a
vast
diversity
of
neuronal
cell
types,
each
with
characteristic
anatomical,
molecular
and
functional
properties1.
Synaptic
connectivity
shapes
how
type
participates
in
the
cortical
circuit,
but
mapping
rules
at
resolution
distinct
types
remains
difficult.
Here
we
used
millimetre-scale
volumetric
electron
microscopy2
to
investigate
all
inhibitory
neurons
across
densely
segmented
population
1,352
cells
spanning
layers
mouse
visual
cortex,
producing
wiring
diagram
inhibition
more
than
70,000
synapses.
Inspired
by
classical
neuroanatomy,
classified
based
on
targeting
dendritic
compartments
developed
an
excitatory
neuron
classification
reconstructions
whole-cell
maps
synaptic
input.
Single-cell
showed
class
disinhibitory
specialist
that
targets
basket
cells.
Analysis
onto
found
widespread
specificity,
many
interneurons
exhibiting
differential
spatially
intermingled
subpopulations.
Inhibitory
was
organized
into
'motif
groups',
diverse
sets
collectively
target
both
perisomatic
same
targets.
Collectively,
our
analysis
identified
new
organizing
principles
for
will
serve
as
foundation
linking
contemporary
multimodal
atlases
diagram.