Notes on techniques

H.J. ten Donkelaar, D.F. Stegeman, T. van der Vliet

    Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

    Abstract

    In this introductory chapter, techniques for studying brain circuitry are discussed. Many features of the fibre connections of the human brain and spinal cord have been elucidated by the analysis of normal preparations stained by the Weigert-Pal and Klüver-Barrera techniques to demonstrate the myelin sheaths around axons of neurons (Sect. 3.2). Brain circuitry can be studied with these myelin-staining techniques, the classic Marchi and Nauta degeneration techniques and the more recent tract-tracing techniques (Sect. 3.3), with immunohistochemistry (Sect. 3.4) as well as with various electrophysiological techniques (Sect. 3.5). The development of modern non-invasive imaging techniques (Sect. 3.6) such as positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has greatly improved our knowledge of the circuitry of the human central nervous system (CNS). New developments in MR imaging such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI; “tractography”) allow the visualization of the major fibre connections in the human CNS. These various techniques are illustrated with examples on the corticospinal tract.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationClinical Neuroanatomy
    Subtitle of host publicationBrain circuitry and its disorders
    EditorsH.J. ten Donkelaar
    Place of PublicationBerlin / Heidelberg
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages107-131
    Number of pages25
    ISBN (Electronic)9783642191343
    ISBN (Print)9783642191336
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Notes on techniques'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this