The Brain's Hidden Stripes

Sillitoe, et al. The Journal of Neuroscience 2008.

Complex patterns are everywhere in nature, from the deceiving stripes of a zebra herd to the menacing spots of certain butterflies. These patterns are also present in the brain, though many are invisible to the naked eye. This image illuminates where two genes are turned on in an area of the brain called the cerebellum, revealing a striped pattern.

About the Author

Michael W. Richardson

Michael W. Richardson is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York, covering topics ranging from the brain and behavior to the environment.