NeuroView Synthetic Neurobiology（NeuroView合成神经生物学）.pdfVIP

Neuron NeuroView Designing Tools for Assumption-Proof Brain Mapping Adam H. Marblestone1 and Edward S. Boyden1,* 1Synthetic Neurobiology Group, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA *Correspondence: esb@ /10.1016/j.neuron.2014.09.004 Can we develop technologies to systematically map classical mechanisms throughout the brain, while retain- ing the flexibility to investigate new mechanisms as they are discovered? We discuss principles of scalable, flexible technologies that could yield comprehensive maps of brain function. There has been much recent excitement connectomics, similar questions are be- of genes can have profound effects on about the potential for tools that might ing directed at the synapse. Direct electri- neural function. Beyond static transcrip- enable scalable mapping of brain circuits cal connections (mediated by proteins tomic snapshots, some evidence sug- at the anatomical level (i.e., connectom- that make up gap junctions) can form gests that cells can change their type ics), the molecular level (e.g., transcrip- local networks among interneurons with over time, perhaps calling into question tomics, proteomics), and the activity level similar gene expression profiles (Brown the notion of cell type itself. In addition (i.e., dynomics). However, new funda- and Hestrin, 2009), among other kinds to dynamic changes in gene splicing as mental mechanisms of neural function of circuits. Direct electrical interactions a mechanism for transcriptomic variation, are being discovered all the time. This between adjacent neurons—so-called neurons in adult animals can alter which raises a question that sits at the junc- ‘‘ephaptic coupling’’—has been sug- neurotransmitters they use for signaling tion bet