![]() In a longitudinal study, the total number of spines to be analyzed can reach up to thousands, and analyzing such a dataset manually is tedious and time-consuming. For example, in an experiment that addresses structural plasticity mechanisms along a dendritic branch using fluorescence imaging, depending on the image acquisition conditions and the type of the neuron that is being imaged, hundreds of spines can be assessed. Activity-dependent structural changes at spines can last from minutes to days and are experimentally visualized through multi-time point sampling of z-stack images, often collected over many hours. Understanding how such changes are physically maintained in the neuron is key to elucidating the mechanisms by which information is stored in the brain. Changes in efficacy and structure can impact subsequent information transmission between inputs across the dendritic arbor 10, 11, 12. The efficacy of excitatory synapses changes with development 1, activity 2, and learning 3, and correlates with structural changes of dendritic spines 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. We have tested the algorithm on in-vitro, in-vivo, and simulated datasets to demonstrate its performance in a wide range of possible experimental scenarios. ![]() In this paper, we present an open-source software called SpineS for automatic longitudinal structural analysis of dendritic spines with additional features for manual intervention to ensure optimal analysis. Experiments that aim to investigate the dynamics behind the structural changes of dendritic spines require the collection and analysis of large time-series datasets. ![]() High precision tracking of synaptic structures can give hints about the dynamic nature of memory and help us understand how memories evolve both in biological and artificial neural networks. Learning and memory studies have shown that a great deal of the information stored by a neuron is contained in the synapses. The structure of a dendritic spine correlates with its functional efficacy. Live fluorescence imaging has demonstrated the dynamic nature of dendritic spines, with changes in shape occurring both during development and in response to activity.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |