{"id":827,"date":"2022-04-07T14:04:29","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T14:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/?page_id=827"},"modified":"2022-06-09T12:35:48","modified_gmt":"2022-06-09T12:35:48","slug":"neuronal-connections","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/ar2021\/neuronal-connections","title":{"rendered":"Neuronal connections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n  <style>\n    .vf-hero {\n              --vf-hero--bg-image: url('https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/20220524_AR2021_banners-scaled.jpg');\n            }\n\n  <\/style>\n<section id=\"\" class=\"vf-hero | vf-u-fullbleed  | vf-u-margin__bottom--0\">\n  <div class=\"vf-hero__content | vf-box | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n        <h1 class=\"vf-hero__heading\">\n              Annual Report 2021          <\/h1>\n\n        <p class=\"vf-hero__subheading\">A year of exceptional life science research, training, service, industry collaboration, and integration of European life science research.<\/p>\n    \n    \n      <\/div>\n<\/section>\n<!--\/vf-hero-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-grid | vf-grid__col-3\"><div class=\"vf-grid__col--span-2\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><strong>Neuronal connections<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From new insights into visual processing to the nervous system of a marine worm, EMBL\u2019s research in 2021 covered a wide range of neuroscience topics.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"vf-figure wp-block-image size-full is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" class=\"vf-figure__image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20210820_Hiroki_Asari_Vision_updated_1000px72dpi.jpeg\" alt=\"Artistic representation of the complex cell circuit forming the retina\" class=\"wp-image-560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20210820_Hiroki_Asari_Vision_updated_1000px72dpi.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20210820_Hiroki_Asari_Vision_updated_1000px72dpi-300x180.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/20210820_Hiroki_Asari_Vision_updated_1000px72dpi-768x461.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"vf-figure__caption\">Artistic representation of the complex cell circuit forming the retina. From left: green\/blue, photoreceptors; yellow, horizontal cells; dark green, bipolar cells; orange, amacrine cells; purple, retinal ganglion cells. Credit: Isabel Romero Calvo\/EMBL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2021, scientists at EMBL created the most detailed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/news\/science\/platybrowser\/\">dataset for an entire animal<\/a> to date using electron microscopy and expression data. The cellular atlas of the marine worm, <em>Platynereis dumerilii<\/em>, will give an insight into the origin and evolution of the nervous system. The researchers showed that certain cellular structures known as mushroom bodies are a sensory organ on their own and that they express genes that are also activated in an important type of nerve cells in vertebrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A pioneering technique developed by researchers at EMBL allows neuroscientists to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/news\/science\/new-microscopy-technique-makes-deep-in-vivo-brain-imaging-possible\/\">image live neurons deep inside the brain <\/a>at high resolution. The technique is based on two state-of-the-art microscopy methods, three-photon microscopy and adaptive optics. It is a leap towards developing more advanced non-invasive techniques to study live tissues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on a computational model of the retinal network, scientists at EMBL Rome were able to derive predictions about retinal physiology and test them experimentally. The study revealed an<a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/news\/science\/vision-unveiled-new-roles-for-the-retina-in-visual-processing\/\"> unexpected role for retinal cells in pre-processing visual information<\/a>. These new insights could lead to the development of future prosthetic visual aids that mimic the retina\u2019s visual processing.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<div style=\"height:197px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-content-hub-html\" data-cache=\"ddcd6418\">\n    \n  <!-- Generated by: http:\/\/content.embl.org\/api\/v1\/pattern.html?filter-content-type=person&amp;filter-field-contains%5Bfield_person_full_name%5D=Christian%20Tischer&amp;filter-fields-empty=field_person_visible_internally&amp;filter-ref-entity%5Bfield_person_positions%5D%5Btitle%5D=&amp;filter-ref-entity%5Bfield_person_positions%5D%5Bfield_position_primary%5D=1&amp;hide%5Bname%2Cposition%2Cteam%2Cemail%2Cphones%2Cmobile%2Corcid%2Clink%5D=1&amp;limit=1&amp;pattern=vf-profile-block -->\n\n          \n    <article class=\"vf-profile vf-profile--very-easy vf-profile--medium vf-profile--block\" data-embl-js-conditional-edit=\"78014\">\n\n              <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"vf-profile__image\" src=\"http:\/\/content.embl.org\/\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/medium\/public\/persons\/CP-60005645.jpg?itok=96bzWDuh\" alt=\"image of \" \/>\n      \n      \n      \n      \n      \n            \n            \n      \n      <a class=\"vf-text vf-text--body-r vf-link embl-conditional-edit\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" href=\"\/node\/78014\" target=\"_blank\">\n        Edit\n      <\/a>\n    <\/article>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left vf-u-text-color--green vf-text--body vf-text-body--2\"><em><meta charset=\"utf-8\">\u201cTo make the [cellular atlas] data accessible to the community, we developed an open-source plugin. This has since turned out to be a very useful generic tool for multimodal big image data sharing and exploration<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left  vf-text--body vf-text-body--5\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">\u00a0\u2013 Christian Tischer, Scientist \/ IT Engineer, <a href=\"https:\/\/bio-it.embl.de\/centres\/cba\/\">EMBL Centre for Bioimage Analysis<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<article class=\"vf-profile vf-profile--very-easy vf-profile--medium vf-profile--block | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n\n    <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"155\" height=\"175\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Christina-Policarpi.jpg\" class=\"vf-profile__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\" \/>\n    <h3 class=\"vf-profile__title\" style=\"text-align: center;\">\n                                <\/h3>\n    \n    \n    \n      \n\n    \n<\/article>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"vf-u-text-color--green vf-text--body vf-text-body--2\"><em>&#8220;In a pandemic that once paralysed the world, EMBL found itself shouldering even more social responsibilities by doing what it can do best: making a difference through outstanding scientific contributions and discoveries.&#8221; <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"vf-text--body vf-text-body--5\"> \u2013 Cristina Policarpi, postdoc, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/groups\/hackett\/\">Hackett Group<\/a> at EMBL Rome<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"vf-box vf-box--easy vf-box-theme--tertiary | vf-u-margin__bottom--400\">\n      <h3 class=\"vf-box__heading\">\n                Explore more 2021 EMBL neuroscience research highlights:                  <\/h3> \n        <p class=\"vf-box__text\"><!-- wp:list --><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/news\/science\/platybrowser\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A cellular atlas of an entire worm | EMBL<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/news\/science\/new-microscopy-technique-makes-deep-in-vivo-brain-imaging-possible\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">New microscopy technique makes deep in vivo brain imaging possible | EMBL<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/news\/science\/vision-unveiled-new-roles-for-the-retina-in-visual-processing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vision unveiled: new roles for the retina in visual processing<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"vf-box__text\"><!-- \/wp:list --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"vf-text--body vf-text-body--5\">Vergara HM, Pape C, Meechan KI, Zinchenko V, Genoud C, Wanner AA <em>et al. <\/em>(2021). <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cell.2021.07.017\">Whole-body integration of gene expression and single-cell morphology<\/a><em>. Cell,<\/em> 10 August 2021. DOI: 10.1016\/j.cell.2021.07.017<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"vf-text--body vf-text-body--5\">Streich L <em>et al. <\/em>(2021). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41592-021-01257-6#citeas\">High-resolution structural and functional deep brain imaging using adaptive optics three-photon microscopy<\/a>. <em>Nature Methods<\/em>, 30 September 2021. DOI: 10.1038\/s41592-021-01257-6<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"vf-text--body vf-text-body--5\">lasiuk A, Asari H. (2021). <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.plos.org\/plosone\/article?id=10.1371\/journal.pone.0254611\">Feedback from retinal ganglion cells to the inner retina<\/a>. V<em>PLoS One, <\/em>22 July 2021. DOI: 10.1371\/journal.pone.0254611<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<style>\n    <\/style>\n\n<section id=\"wp-block-1\">\n  <div class=\"vf-card-container  | vf-u-fullbleed  \n  | vf-u-background-color-ui--grey--light \">\n          <div class=\"vf-section-header | vf-u-margin__bottom--600\">\n        <h2 class=\"vf-section-header__heading\" >\n            <\/h2>\n              <\/div>\n      \n\n<div class=\"embl-grid\"><div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/\">Back to Annual report<\/a><\/h3>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n  <img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"742\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/ImagingCenter_KeyVisual_v3-m.jpg\" class=\"vf-card__image\" alt=\"Colourful vertical panels each show different microscopic images possible with the high-tech tools in EMBL&#039;s Imaging Centre\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/ImagingCenter_KeyVisual_v3-m.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/ImagingCenter_KeyVisual_v3-m-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/ImagingCenter_KeyVisual_v3-m-768x570.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n                  <a class=\"vf-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/ar2021\/sharpening-the-lens-on-biology\" target=\"\">\n        \n        Next Story\n                  <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n            <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n          <\/svg>\n        <\/a>\n              <\/h3>\n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__subheading\">Sharpening the lens on biology<\/p>\n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">EMBL\u2019s Imaging Centre comes online, complementing advances that enable scientists to see and understand the smallest aspects of molecular biology in their biological context.<\/span><\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><!--[vf\/content]-->\n<div class=\"vf-content\">\n\n<article class=\"vf-card vf-card--brand vf-card--bordered vf-u-margin__bottom--800\" default>\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/AR2021_PDF_mock-up_AdobeStock_182004081.jpg\" class=\"vf-card__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" itemprop=\"image\">\n  \n  <div class=\"vf-card__content | vf-stack vf-stack--400\">\n          <h3 class=\"vf-card__heading\">\n                  <a class=\"vf-card__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/documents\/document\/annual-report-2021\/\" target=\"_blank\">\n        \n        Download the annual report summary \n                  <svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"vf-card__heading__icon | vf-icon vf-icon-arrow--inline-end\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n            <path d=\"M0 12c0 6.627 5.373 12 12 12s12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0C5.376.008.008 5.376 0 12zm13.707-5.209l4.5 4.5a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4.5 4.5a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414l2.366-2.367a.25.25 0 00-.177-.424H6a1 1 0 010-2h8.482a.25.25 0 00.177-.427l-2.366-2.368a1 1 0 011.414-1.414z\" fill=\"currentColor\" fill-rule=\"nonzero\"><\/path>\n          <\/svg>\n        <\/a>\n              <\/h3>\n    \n    \n          <p class=\"vf-card__text\">A snapshot of EMBL 2021 facts and figures<\/p>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"parent":38,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"vf_template_subpage.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"embl_taxonomy":[],"class_list":["post-827","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"embl_taxonomy_terms":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/827","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=827"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/827\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3854,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/827\/revisions\/3854"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/38"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=827"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"embl_taxonomy","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.embl.org\/about\/info\/annual-report\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/embl_taxonomy?post=827"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}