B0007842 Pyramidal neurons
Credit: Prof. M. Hausser / UCL. Wellcome Images
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Computer simulated neuronal network. This image was created using software called the ‘TREES toolbox’, which allows scientists to generate neuronal structures indistinguishable from those found in the real biological brain. A number of such synthetic neurons are shown here, each one assigned a different colour so that each individual neuronal structure and processes can be easily distinguished. These neurons represent the optimised size, shape and connectivity of pyramidal neurons analogous to those found in the cortex of the brain. Pyramidal neurons are so-called because they have a pyramid-shaped cell body (soma), they are also characterised by long branching dendrites. They are found in the forebrain (cortex and hippocampus) of mammals and are thought to be involved in cognitive function.
These highly accurate synthetic neurons have the added advantage of being manipulated and viewed in a number of different ways helping scientists learn more about cell shape and how neurons are constructed.
Computational simulation
Published: –
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