Neurotechniques
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Cover illustration (Artwork by N. Spencer) REVIEWS 900 Molecular genetics and imaging technologies for circuit-based neuroanatomy B. R. Arenkiel & M. D. Ehlers 908 Neuroscience in the era of functional genomics and systems biology D. H. Geschwind & G. Konopka 916 Multimodal techniques for diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer’s disease R. J. Perrin, A. M. Fagan & D. M. Holtzman 923 Reverse engineering the mouse brain D. H. O’Connor, D. Huber & K. Svoboda 930 Electrophysiology in the age of light M. Scanziani & M. Häusser I t is an exciting time to be a neuroscientist. The experimental landscape has changed markedly over the past few years, given the technological advances in molecular genetics, optogenetics and functional imaging. The focus is now shifting towards the application of these techniques in a variety of experimental systems so that their promise can be fulfilled. Neuroscience research was once dominated by anatomical techniques. But, with the advent of electrophysiology, and subsequently molecular biology, anatomical labelling techniques were eclipsed as the pre-eminent experimental strategy. Now, anatomical methodology is experiencing a renaissance, thanks to the ability to deliver molecules genetically in a cell-type-specific manner and as a result of advances in imaging methods. This powerful combination, together with electrophysiological techniques, now makes it feasible to study the relationships between specific neural circuits and particular behaviours in rodents, previously the domain of invertebrate model systems. However, despite the rise of new techniques, electrophysiology is unlikely to suffer the earlier fate of neuroanatomy and will remain an integral part of neuroscience experimentation. Neuroscientists are also poised to benefit from systems-based approaches to data collection and analysis but lag behind other researchers, such as tumour biologists, in implementing these strategies. Using the results from such approaches to direct hypothesis-driven work and improve the design of these experiments could be a crucial development in psychiatric-disease genetics, focusing efforts on key candidate genes in the genetic network associated with disease. Systems biology could also aid in attempts to identify specific markers of neurodegenerative diseases. We thank the authors and reviewers of these Reviews for their contributions to this Insight, which offers visions for tackling the next set of challenging neurobiological questions. Noah Gray, Chief Commissioning Editor Tanguy Chouard, Contributing Editor Editor, Nature Philip Campbell Publishing Nick Campbell Claudia Deasy Insights Editor Lesley Anson Production Editor Davina Dadley-Moore Senior Art Editor Martin Harrison Art Editor Nik Spencer Sponsorship Amélie Pequignot Reya Silao Production Jocelyn Hilton Marketing Elena Woodstock Emily Elkins Editorial Assistant Emma Gibson NEUROTECHNIQUES 899 Vol 461 | Issue no. 7266 | 15 October 2009 www.nature.com/nature © 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved
Transcript of Neurotechniques
Cover illustration(Artwork by N. Spencer)
REVIEWS900 Molecular genetics and
imaging technologies for circuit-based neuroanatomy
B. R. Arenkiel & M. D. Ehlers
908 Neuroscience in the era of functional genomics and systems biology
D. H. Geschwind & G. Konopka
916 Multimodal techniques for diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer’s disease
R. J. Perrin, A. M. Fagan &
D. M. Holtzman
923 Reverse engineering the mouse brain
D. H. O’Connor, D. Huber &
K. Svoboda
930 Electrophysiology in the age of light
M. Scanziani & M. Häusser
It is an exciting time to be a neuroscientist. The experimental landscape has changed markedly over the past few years, given the technological advances in molecular genetics, optogenetics
and functional imaging. The focus is now shifting towards the application of these techniques in a variety of experimental systems so that their promise can be fulfilled.
Neuroscience research was once dominated by anatomical techniques. But, with the advent of electrophysiology, and subsequently molecular biology, anatomical labelling techniques were eclipsed as the pre-eminent experimental strategy. Now, anatomical methodology is experiencing a renaissance, thanks to the ability to deliver molecules genetically in a cell-type-specific manner and as a result of advances in imaging methods. This powerful combination, together with electrophysiological techniques, now makes it feasible to study the relationships between specific neural circuits and particular behaviours in rodents, previously the domain of invertebrate model systems. However, despite the rise of new techniques, electrophysiology is unlikely to suffer the earlier fate of neuroanatomy and will remain an integral part of neuroscience experimentation.
Neuroscientists are also poised to benefit from systems-based approaches to data collection and analysis but lag behind other researchers, such as tumour biologists, in implementing these strategies. Using the results from such approaches to direct hypothesis-driven work and improve the design of these experiments could be a crucial development in psychiatric-disease genetics, focusing efforts on key candidate genes in the genetic network associated with disease. Systems biology could also aid in attempts to identify specific markers of neurodegenerative diseases.
We thank the authors and reviewers of these Reviews for their contributions to this Insight, which offers visions for tackling the next set of challenging neurobiological questions.Noah Gray, Chief Commissioning EditorTanguy Chouard, Contributing Editor
Editor, NaturePhilip Campbell
PublishingNick Campbell
Claudia Deasy
Insights EditorLesley Anson
Production EditorDavina Dadley-Moore
Senior Art EditorMartin Harrison
Art EditorNik Spencer
SponsorshipAmélie Pequignot
Reya Silao
ProductionJocelyn Hilton
MarketingElena Woodstock
Emily Elkins
Editorial AssistantEmma Gibson
NEUROTECHNIQUES
899
Vol 461 | Issue no. 7266 | 15 October 2009www.nature.com/nature
899 Insight editorial NS.indd 899899 Insight editorial NS.indd 899 2/10/09 12:02:322/10/09 12:02:32
© 2009 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved
