人们头盖骨内部的粉红色和灰色斑点(blob)并不符合常规的审美观。为了与达纳基金会(The Dana Foundation)和其他组织庆祝2012年3月12日开始的大脑意识周(Brain Awareness Week,译者注:也可翻译为大脑关注周),细胞出版社(Cell Press)收集了一些论文:它们重点关注大脑更加艺术性和更加漂亮的方面。
这当中最为令人震撼的就是小鼠“脑彩虹(brainbow)”[1],即一系列表达荧光蛋白的脑细胞的显微图片。2007年,研究人员在《自然》期刊上发表一篇论文[2],利用一种基因重组(genetic recombination)方法,仅用4种基本荧光颜色构建出一块由大约90种颜色组成的调色板。而且由于基因重组是随机发生的,所以结果就是研究人员获得一组绚丽多彩的神经元颜色。
另一个更加艺术性的话题就是音乐神经科学(neuroscience of music)。2011年10月28日发表在《细胞》期刊上的一篇研究论文“The Musicality of Franz Liszt(弗朗兹-李斯特的音乐性)”通过钢琴家弗朗兹-李斯特的思想来追踪单个音符[3],其中他被认为拥有完美的音感和联觉(synesthesia)。
取名为“雪花(Snowflake)”的凤头鹦鹉知道如何在舞池上对音乐进行细分[4]。但是谁能够像这种没有记忆的鹦鹉那样思考音乐神经科学?
这次特定的论文汇集也包括很多关于认知科学的文章,同时包括关于性别差异[5]、脑部大小[6]和催眠[7]方面的文章。(生物谷:towersimper编译)
脑彩虹系列图片
1.脑彩虹系列图片之一海马体(Hippocampus)
海马体(Hippocampus),图片来自Tamily Weissman, Harvard Universityrvard University。
2. 脑彩虹系列图片之一浦肯野神经细胞(Purkinje neuron)
浦肯野神经细胞(Purkinje neuron),图片来自Tamily Weissman, Harvard University。
3. 脑彩虹系列图片之一苔藓状纤维(Mossy Fiber)
苔藓状纤维散开,图片来自Tamily Weissman, Harvard University。
4. 脑彩虹系列图片之一轴突波(Axonal Waves)
轴突波,图片来自Dawen Cai, Josh R. Sanes, Jeff W. Lichtman, Harvard U.
5. 脑彩虹系列图片之一视网膜烟花(Retinal Fireworks)
视网膜烟花,图片来自Josh R. Sanes, Harvard University.
6. 脑彩虹系列图片之一大脑周围(Beyond the Brain)
大脑周围,图片来自 Karine Loulier, Institut de la Vision.
7. 脑彩虹系列图片之一彩虹舌头(Rainbow Tongues)
彩虹舌头,图片来自 Karine Loulier, Institut de la Vision.
8. 脑彩虹系列图片之一五彩纸屑小鼠(Confetti Mice)
五彩纸屑小鼠,图片来自Hugo Snippert, Hubrecht Institute。
9. 脑彩虹系列图片之一绒毛(Villi)
可视化观察绒毛,图片来自Hugo Snippert, Hubrecht Institute。
10. 脑彩虹系列图片之一隐窝(Crypt)
隐窝中的竞争,图片来自Hugo Snippert, Hubrecht Institute。
细胞出版社收集的一些论文:
1 Brainbow. http://www.cell.com/cell_picture_show-brainbow
2 Jean Livet et al. Transgenic strategies for combinatorial expression of fluorescent proteins in the nervous system. Nature 450, 56-62 (1 November 2007) | doi:10.1038/nature06293.
3. The Musicality of Franz Liszt, Cell, Volume 147, Issue 3, 481, 28 October 2011, doi:10.1016/j.cell.2011.10.016.
4. Patel et al. Experimental Evidence for Synchronization to a Musical Beat in a Nonhuman Animal. Current Biology, Volume 19, Issue 10, 827-830 26 May 2009, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.03.038.
5. Lise Eliot.The Trouble with Sex Differences. Neuron, Volume 72, Issue 6, 895-898, 22 December 2011.
6. Lars Chittka et al. Are Bigger Brains Better? Current Biology, Volume 19, Issue 21, R995-R1008, 17 November 2009.
7. Amir Raz. Hypnosis: a twilight zone of the top-down variety. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Volume 15, Issue 12, 555-557, 11 November 2011.
8. John M. Bekkers. Pyramidal neurons. Current Biology, Volume 21, Issue 24, R975, 20 December 2011, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.10.037.
9. Make your own brain cap. http://www.elsevierdirect.com/BrainNavigator/docs/Brain_Hemisphere_Hat_download.pdf
10. Catherine Lord. Unweaving the Autism Spectrum. Cell, Volume 147, Issue 1, 24-25, 30 September 2011, 10.1016/j.cell.2011.09.017.
11. Essi Viding et al. Behavioural problems and bullying at school: can cognitive neuroscience shed new light on an old problem? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Volume 15, Issue 7, 289-291, 10 June 2011, 10.1016/j.tics.2011.05.001.
12. Stephen J. Morse. Genetics and criminal responsibility. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Volume 15, Issue 9, 378-380, 20 July 2011, 10.1016/j.tics.2011.06.009.
13. Howard L. Fields. The Doctor's Dilemma: Opiate Analgesics and Chronic Pain. Neuron, Volume 69, Issue 4, 591-594, 24 February 2011, doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2011.02.001.
14. Horace Barlow et al. Dr. Horace Barlow discusses his life’s work on vision research. Current Biology, Volume 18, Issue 12, R502-R503, 24 June 2008, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.04.005.
15. Uta Frith. Dr. Uta Frith discusses her work on neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and dyslexia. Current Biology, Volume 18, Issue 11, R451-R453, 3 June 2008, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.03.041.
16. Steven E. Hyman. Dr. Steven Hyman discusses the challenges of diagnosing psychiatric disorders. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Volume 16, Issue 1, 3-5, 09 December 2011, doi:10.1016/j.tics.2011.10.007
17. Steven E. Hyman. Dr. Hyman about the promises and perils of cognitive enhancement. Neuron, Volume 69, Issue 4, 595-598, 24 February 2011, doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2011.02.012.
18. Nancy Y. Ip. Career Development for Women Scientists in Asia.Neuron, Volume 70, Issue 6, 1029-1032, 23 June 2011, doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2011.06.008.