Scientists at Columbia University have developed an amazing new microscope for viewing neurons, and they used it to image proprioceptive neurons in living fruit fly larvae. These neural cells help the larvae orient itself. The videos the Columbia team created are simply incredible, particularly if you consider how small these animals are and that the imaging was done in 3D.
The technology is called high-speed volumetric swept confocally aligned planar excitation (SCAPE) and it allows the scientists to see individual neural cells as they move and bend along with the body, as well as the calcium activity taking place inside of the cells.
Here’s an example video from the study:
Study in Current Biology: Characterization of Proprioceptive System Dynamics in Behaving Drosophila Larvae Using High-Speed Volumetric Microscopy…
Via: Columbia…