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An 8 day old 3D cluster of cells (embryoid body) formed from mouse embryonic stem cells. The cells were grown in factors to encourage development of the nervous system (neural differentiation). Mature neurones (beta-tubulin, green) are seen extending across the surface of the embryoid body which is made up of immature neural cells (nestin, red). Imaged by fluorescence immunocytochemistry. Image width is 2.28 mm.

Neurone development, embryoid body

This painting seeks to descibe Insomnia, one of over 80 recognised Sleep Disorders. Here, the mind of the insomniac is 'wired' as a result of overstimulation caused by overuse of digital technologies or caffeine. The imaginary focus of the microscope over the brain reveals high levels of electro-chemical activity along neurons and across synapes.

Insomnia

The image shows a reconstruction of the physical connections between the different regions in an adult human brain. Via these connections, brain activity can travel from one part of the brain to another. The data for this image was obtained using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging - a non-invasive neuroimaging method that allows us to build detailed representations of brain connections in vivo.

The geometry of these connections in the adult brain is of a daunting complexity. At the time of their formation, however, the brain is smaller and its shape simpler. To produce this image we deformed the brain in an attempt to recover this original simplicity. Using similar tools as those of ancient cartographers, we deformed the brain to combine multiple points of view into a single image showing the global structure of the brain's connections.		 	 	 		

The image shows a mercator transformation of the 3D space embedding a dense human brain tractography. The tractography was computed from high-angular resolution diffusion weighted imaging data. The unfolding was performed from a ventral point of view and shows the arrival of white matter fibres to the neocortex. The cerebellum is at the bottom of the image at the midline, immediately to the sides are the left and right temporal lobes, and the interhemispheric margin appears at the left and right borders of the image. One major fibre bundle has been selected for colorful representation of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, which links the visual areas in the occipital lobe with those related to object recognition in the temporal lobe.



Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) is a neuroimaging technique where signal intensity at different brain regions is modulated by the local anisotropy of water diffusion. Using DWI data we can evaluate the existence of large white matter fibre bundles, estimate their local direction, and reconstruct their pathways. The resulting reconstruction of the macroscopic structure of brain connections is very complex. We developed a computer program which performs a mercator transformation of the reconstructed streamlines. Our aim was to simplify their geometry to obtain a more intuitive representation of the global brain connectivity.

Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus, tractography

The image shows a reconstruction of the physical connections between the different regions in an adult human brain. Via these connections, brain activity can travel from one part of the brain to another. The data for this image was obtained using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging - a non-invasive neuroimaging method that allows us to build detailed representations of brain connections in vivo.

The geometry of these connections in the adult brain is of a daunting complexity. At the time of their formation, however, the brain is smaller and its shape simpler. To produce this image the brain was deformed in an attempt to recover this original simplicity. Using similar tools as those of ancient cartographers, multiple points of view were combined into a single image showing the global structure of the brain's connections.		
 	 	 		

The image shows a mercator transformation of the 3D space embedding a dense human brain tractography. The tractography was computed from high-angular resolution diffusion weighted imaging data. The unfolding was performed from a ventral point of view and shows the arrival of white matter fibres to the neocortex. The cerebellum is at the bottom of the image at the midline, immediately to the sides are the left and right temporal lobes, and the interhemispheric margin appears at the left and right borders of the image. One major fibre bundle has been selected for colorful representation of the extreme capsule fibre system, which links the two most important language areas: Broca's area - related to language production, and Wernicke's area - related to language comprehension.

Brocke and Wernicke areas of brain, MRI

This painting seeks to describe the experience of Insomnia, one of over 80 recognised Sleep Disorders. Here the insomniac's experience of closing their eyes is dominated by the fear of the dark closing in and overwhelming them. This intense anxiety causes an increase in neurological overstimulation associated with a feeling of perpetual sleeplessness and also an increased fear of sleep. Such a cycle of anxiety-related insomnia may be successfully treated with medication.

Silicon chip

Cellular architecture of normal human skin imaged by whole mount tissue microscopy. Human skin has a rich network of white blood cells (specifically dendritic cells, T cells and macrophages) which form sheaths around blood vessels (string-like structures). A network of lymphatic vessels (ribbon-like structures) is also present. In this image, human skin lymphatic vessels (stained for LYVE-1; blue) and white blood cells comprised of dendritic cells (stained for CD11c; green) and T cells (stained for CD3; red) can be seen. Some macrophages also express the protein LYVE-1 similar to lymphatic vessel cells which can be appreciated as blue cells within and in between the sheaths of white blood cells. This normal cellular architecture is grossly disrupted in diseased skin (see related images). X10 magnification. Scale bar (white) represents 200 micrometres.

Cellular architecture of human skin lymphoma imaged by whole mount tissue microscopy. Normal human skin has a rich network of white blood cells (specifically dendritic cells, T cells and macrophages) which form sheaths around blood vessels. In diseased skin, such as in skin lymphoma as seen here, this normal architecture becomes distorted. In this image, lots of T cells (stained for CD3; red), dendritic cells (stained for CD11c; green) and macrophages (stained for LYVE-1; blue) have infiltrated the skin. X20 magnification. Scale bar (white) represents 100 micrometres.

Acrylic on canvas hand drawn coloured painting of Spanish neuroscientist Santiago Ramon y Cajal born on 1 May 1852. Widely thought of as the founder of neuroscience, Cajal was a pioneer of investigations into the microscopic structure of the brain and left behind hundreds of skilfully illustrated drawings of brain cells. Through his neuro-anatomical investigations, he provided evidence for what is now known as the "neuron doctrine". Cajal was awarded The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1906 together with Camillo Golgi "in recognition of their work on the structure of the nervous system". 

He is depicted here holding a crystal ball containing individual nerve cells in his left hand. Neurones in the cerebellum are drawn in the background.

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Neurone development, embryoid body

Insomnia

Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus, tractography

Brocke and Wernicke areas of brain, MRI

Insomnia

Silicon chip

Silicon chip

Santiago Ramon y Cajal

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Neurone development, embryoid body

Insomnia

Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus, tractography

Brocke and Wernicke areas of brain, MRI

Insomnia

Silicon chip

Silicon chip

Santiago Ramon y Cajal

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

Finding us:

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Wellcome collection