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A New Way to Image Myelin

Scientists combine particle physics and neuroscience to visualize a key element of the nervous system.

Researchers who study myelin have long had to choose between imaging the substance with noninvasive but indirect methods that are challenging to interpret and direct but invasive methods that destroy the imaged sample in the process. Now, scientists propose a new and non-destructive way to image myelin.

How does the new technique work and what inspired it? Find out in the visual story below.

Scientists Propose New Standard for Imaging Myelin
Scientists Propose New Standard for Imaging Myelin
Scientist combine tools of particle physics and neuroscience to propose new standard for imaging nervous system's key element: myelin.

Georgiadis M, Schroeter A, Gao Z, Guizar-Sicairos M, Liebi M, Leuze C, McNab JA, Balolia A, Veraart J, Ades-Aron B, Kim S, Shepherd T, Lee CH, Walczak P, Chodankar S, DiGiacomo P, David G, Augath M, Zerbi V, Sommer S, Rajkovic I, Weiss T, Bunk O, Yang L, Zhang J, Novikov DS, Zeineh M, Fieremans E, Rudin M.
Nanostructure-specific X-ray tomography reveals myelin levels, integrity and axon orientations in mouse and human nervous tissue.
Nat Commun. 2021 May 19;12(1):2941. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-22719-7