Radial Branches

Jortner, et al. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2007.

To gain new insight on how the brain processes sensory information scientists sometimes turn to simpler animals, like insects. The above image displays three neurons (two in green, one in red) in the brain of a locust. Each of these neurons has 10 to 12 radial branches, or dendrites, which receive information about odor from the locust’s antenna. Knowledge of the architecture of this relatively simple olfactory system may one day lead to new information about how this system works in vertebrates.

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.