A red-lit room in Cristopher Niell’s research lab in the Lewis Integrative Science Building is filled with mice. But these are no ordinary mice. Researchers in the lab, led by University of Oregon doctoral student Joseph Wekselblatt, are working on a project to observe how these mice’s brains respond to sensory input using microscopes.
Although scientists know a lot about the different structures in the brain, the task of observing brain activity is a difficult one. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, also known as fMRI’s, are able to detect activity in different regions of the brain but are unable to show individual neurons firing. This means that we can see what regions of the brain are responsible for different tasks but can’t actually see how the brain goes about working its magic.
This has proven to be a big roadblock for neuroscience. Without being able to see exactly how the human brain operates, it’s often a guessing game.
At the UO, Niell’s lab has found a way to break through this barrier and start unwrapping the mysteries of the brain. The lab has developed a way to breed its research mice with fluorescent protein in their brains that lights up on imaging when individual neurons fire. By running the mice through a series of different tasks, the researchers are able to pinpoint exactly what is going on in their brains while in action.
This research is huge because its implications stretch far beyond rodents. “Many parts of the brains in mice are similar to humans, including areas involving vision,” said Niell. By beginning with mice studies, it’s hoped that the research will eventually turn over to human subjects.
Niell is very optimistic about the future of this research. He says that his lab is working on research looking at schizophrenia, neurological disorders and learning. The lab is pairing with the UO department of psychology and College of Education to study the development of the adolescent brain. Niell believes that his lab’s research can be key to understanding how the brain can change and improve functioning.
This all comes at an unprecedented time in neuroscience. The White House started the B.R.A.I.N (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) initiative in 2013 in hopes of getting a better understanding of brain function. Our understanding of the brain is growing at a rapid pace and new research is coming out every day that furthers our knowledge.
Big strides have been made over just the last 20 years. It was only towards the end of the 20th century that the concept of neuroplasticity, the idea that the human brain continues to change throughout adulthood and is not ever stagnant, became accepted as true. Even someone’s intelligence is not hard-wired, and is subject to change.
As techniques to map brain activity improves, the potential for understanding how to change the brain in positive ways increases. Since our brains are control our personalities and how we interact with the world, learning how to change the brain may prove monumental for our development as human beings.
The recent developments in neuroscience are some of the most exciting things that are going on right now. We will probably look back in 20 years on our current understanding of the brain and laugh at how elementary it is. Neuroscience is progressing so quickly that what was once thought of as science fiction is quickly becoming accepted as scientific reality. Niell half-jokingly remarked that, “Anything that seems impossible will end up happening.”
The UO Institute of Neuroscience is looking to expand, planning on hiring four to five new faculty members.