Determining the structure-function variability of a mammalian neuronal circuit

Structure and function of brain circuits are tightly related by intrinsic and activity-dependent mechanisms, yet subject to stochastic events that may provide variability across individuals. Yet a fundamental question of neuroscience, identifying variability of mammalian neural circuits has so far been elusive. Synchrotron X-ray holotomography (XNH) is unique in reliably resolving non-destructively and densely neuronal processes in tissue, across volumes containing full neuronal circuits. Combining XNH with in vivo imaging, we address this question in a genetically targeted neuronal circuit. We aim to obtain a third biological replicate of the same circuit previously imaged at ID16A, answering the fundamental question of circuit variability and providing unique structure-function datasets of highest interest for wider neuroscience. Moreover, we will perform subsequent electron microscopy (EM) on imaged samples, for the first time combining in vivo imaging, X-ray tomography and EM.