Synapses underlie rapid and flexible neural communication in the brain and they hold the key to understanding higher brain functions in health and disease. Because they are very small and highly dynamic, it is very difficult to study them with traditional techniques. Fortunately, recent ground-breaking advances in microscopy have greatly improved our ability to image synapses at the nanoscale, even down to the level of single molecules. Authored by leading practitioners and developers in the field, this volume focuses on the nanoscale analysis of the molecular and structural organization and dynamics of synapses of the central nervous system, utilizing superresolution (e.g. PALM, STORM, STED) and other advanced methods (e.g. EM tomography, optogenetics, FLIM). It explains the basic principles behind the various nanoscale imaging modalities, how they are implemented and what their scope and limitations are, while also highlighting several exciting new research opportunities for synapse research enabled by them.
Synapses underlie rapid and flexible neural communication in the brain and they hold the key to understanding higher brain functions in health and disease. Because they are very small and highly dynamic, it is very difficult to study them with traditional techniques. Fortunately, recent ground-breaking advances in optical microscopy (e.g. STED, PALM, STORM, SIM) have greatly improved our ability to image living synapses at the nanoscale, even down to the level of single molecules. The proposed volume brings together leading researchers to review these exciting new techniques and their application in neurobiological research. It will explain and discuss the basic principles behind the various superresolution modalities, how they are implemented, what their scope and limitations are etc. In addition, several key research discoveries on synapses enabled by these novel approaches will be highlighted.
Timeliness – Superresolution methods are beginning to transform neurobiological research Relevance – Progress in synapse research hinges on advances in superresolution imaging Competence – Chapters are written by leading innovators and practitioners in the field of bioimaging Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
U. Valentin Nägerl
live-cell fluorescence microsopy nanoscopy neurons and glia physiology synapses