1.25.2010
The Art of Neuroscience
When one thinks of neurology, neuropsychology, or neurology, sterile images of MRI scans and disembodied heads of CT radiographs come to mind. Personally, I think angiography is a truly beautiful, if not slightly morbid, test performed thousands of times a day by interventional neuroradiologists. A radioactive dye, injected directly into a major cerebral artery, can highlight specific areas of potential ischemia through diseased arteries, locations of aneurysms and other neurovascular areas of concern.
I'd consider applied neuroscience one of the most artistic and creative sciences left in the medical field, mainly because there is so much left to be discovered. The aesthetics of neuroscience are apparent from its inception. Arguably one of the first great works of neurobiology, Spanish physician, histologist, and and pathologist Santiago Ramón y Cajal used his artistic skills and ingenuity to highlight the cellular structure and interconnection of neurons. Staining individual cells first showed the massive interconnectivity of the neural network.
A century later, researchers used genetic engineering techniques to breed a rat brain with florescent proteins that would glow bright colors under certain lights. The research is still providing breakthroughs for understanding exactly how neurons develop, organize, and connect with one another, but the micrographs are truly beautiful.
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