生物谷報導：神經生物學家們近幾年來獲得了巨大的技術突破：用於細胞標記的複合了複雜方法的成像技術方面的進步已經可以讓科學家們在活體腦細胞中觀測細胞和亞細胞事件，這為研究基礎神經系統進程打開了一扇窗，而複合了高通量方法的新穎遺傳工具則為進一步了解構成神經環路的各種成份提供了幫助，除此之外，近幾年在腦活性操作研究方面也提出了一些新方法，也帶來了新的研究進展，最新一期的《Nature》雜誌中就得到了這一新技術——證明了光敏感蛋白可以用於精確激活和定時沉默神經元研究。
同時在本期的 Nature 雜誌上，網絡焦點（Web Focus）以「Technical breakthroughs in neuroscience」為題，也進行了這方面內容的詳述。其中包括video，podcast，以及目前和之前的一些研究進展。
目前的研究：
ARTICLEMultimodal fast optical interrogation of neural circuitry Free access
Feng Zhang et al.
Nature 446, 633 (5 April 2007) doi:10.1038/nature05744
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
複雜的神經工程技術使得人們有可能對活的腦迴路進行成像和控制。這一領域的最新進展涉及將一種來自古細菌Natronomonas pharaonis的光激發的氯化物泵轉染（transfection）進小鼠海馬體神經元中，從而能夠在毫秒時間尺度上對神經活動進行抑制。這種方法可以補充通過一個可以光激發的藻通道來激發神經元的一種現有工具。這兩個通道對不同波長的光產生響應，允許對同一迴路中的神經活動進行快速雙向控制。在完好的動物身上也是這樣，因為具有這兩個通道的轉基因蛔蟲C. elegans的運動受光的影響。該體系可以通過遺傳學方法定位於特定類型的神經元，因而便出現了這樣一種可能性：它有可能導致神經疾病的光學治療
之前的研究：
神經元光學激發（OPTICAL STIMULATION）
技術報告
Anticonvulsant and anesthetic effects of a fluorescent neurosteroid analog activated by visible light
Lawrence N. Eisenman et al.
Nat. Neurosci. 10, 523 - 530 (25 February 2007) doi:10.1038/nn1862
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity
Edward S. Boyden, Feng Zhang, Ernst Bamberg, Georg Nagel and Karl Deisseroth
Nat. Neurosci. 8, 1263-1268 (8 September 2005) doi:10.1038/nn1525
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
Light-activated ion channels for remote control of neuronal firing
Matthew Banghart, Katharine Borges, Ehud Isacoff, Dirk Trauner and Richard H. Kramer
Nat. Neurosci. 7, 1381-1386 (7 December 2004) doi:10.1038/nn1356
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
觀點透視
Channelrhodopsin-2 and optical control of excitable cells
Feng Zhang, Li-Ping Wang, Edward S. Boyden and Karl Deisseroth
Nat. Methods 3, 785-792 (3 October 2006) doi:10.1038/nmeth936
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
Photochemical tools for remote control of ion channels in excitable cells
Richard H. Kramer, James J. Chambers and Dirk Trauner
Nat. Chem. Biol. 1, 360-365 (1 December 2005) doi:10.1038/nchembio750
Abstract | Full Text | PDF
微環路（MICROCIRCUITRY）
研究文章
Targeting neural circuitry in zebrafish using GAL4 enhancer trapping
Ethan K. Scott et al.
Nat. Methods 4 323-326 (18 March 2007) doi:10.1038/nmeth1033
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Fine-scale specificity of cortical networks depends on inhibitory cell type and connectivity
Yumiko Yoshimura and Edward M. Callaway
Nat. Neurosci. 8, 1552-1559 (8 November 2005) doi:10.1038/nn1565
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Heterogeneity in the pyramidal network of the medial prefrontal cortex
Yun Wang et al.
Nat. Neurosci. 9, 534-542 (9 April 2005) doi:10.1038/nn1670
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
基因特徵&功能分析
技術報告
FACS-array profiling of striatal projection neuron subtypes in juvenile and adult mouse brains
Mary Kay Lobo, Stanislav L. Karsten, Michelle Gray, Daniel H. Geschwind and X William Yang
Nat. Neurosci. 9, 443-452 (9 March 2006) doi:10.1038/nn1654
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
研究文章
Genome-wide atlas of gene expression in the adult mouse brain
Ed S. Lein et al.
Nature 445, 168-176 (24 January 2007) doi:10.1038/nature05453
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Molecular taxonomy of major neuronal classes in the adult mouse forebrain
Ken Sugino et al.
Nat. Neurosci. 9, 99-107 (9 January 2006) doi:10.1038/nn1618
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Systematic analysis of genes required for synapse structure and function
Derek Sieburth et al.
Nature 436, 510-517 (28 July 2005) doi:10.1038/nature03809
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
A gene expression atlas of the central nervous system based on bacterial artificial chromosomes
Shiaoching Gong et al.
Nature 425, 917-925 (30 October 2003) doi:10.1038/nature02033
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
成像技術&顯微技術
研究報告
Ultramicroscopy: three-dimensional visualization of neuronal networks in the whole mouse brain
Hans-Ulrich Dodt et al.
Nat. Methods 4 331-336 (25 March 2007) doi:10.1038/nmeth1036
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Imaging cellular network dynamics in three dimensions using fast 3D laser scanning
Werner Göbel, Björn M. Kampa and Fritjof Helmchen
Nat. Methods 4, 73-79 (4 January 2007) doi:10.1038/nmeth989
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
Reconstruction of firing rate changes across neuronal populations by temporally deconvolved Ca2+ imaging
Emre Yaksi and Rainer W. Friedrich
Nat. Methods 3, 377-383 (3 May 2006) doi:10.1038/nmeth874
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information
技術報告
Supersensitive Ras activation in dendrites and spines revealed by two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging
Ryohei Yasuda et al.
Nat. Neurosci. 9, 283-291 (9 February 2006) doi:10.1038/nn1635
Abstract | Full Text | PDF | Supplementary Information