Revolutionary Neurotechnology Promises Breakthroughs in Brain Mapping and Treatment

Scientists at the Salk Institute have unveiled a revolutionary neurotechnology called Single Transcriptome Assisted Rabies Tracing (START), enabling unprecedented mapping of neuronal connections in the brain. This innovative tool combines monosynaptic rabies virus tracing with single-cell transcriptomics to identify distinct neuronal subtypes, particularly inhibitory neurons, in the cerebral cortex. The implications for targeted treatments for neurological conditions like autism and schizophrenia are profound, paving the way for more effective and individualized therapies.