An Introduction to Neurons and Connectomics

This project is about Connectomics. Connectomics is the study of the structural and functional connections among brain cells (neurons). From mapping the connections between neurons we can produce a Connectome. So before going to Connectomes it‘s better to get an understanding about neurons. 

What are neurons? Neurons are the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system. All brain is mainly built from neurons. The main job of neuron is getting inputs from another neuron and passes it to another neuron.  These inputs are receiving as an electrical signal due to some sensory things. So this Electrical signal may start from our skin. The most important thing is these neurons are connected in specifics ways. So according to the sensory the electrical signal goes through the neurons and signal to the muscles. 

Neuron has a specific design. Dendrites, soma and axon are the main parts of the neuron cell(Look picture). Soma is the body of the neuron and it houses the nucleus which contains the genetic details. Dendrites get the inputs from the other neighborhood neurons. And the long part like a tail that arises from soma is the axon. This is the output structure of a neuron. Axon transports the potentials to the neighborhood neurons. These potentials are named as action potentials.


As a conclusion, Some Dendrites are connected to an axon of another neuron. These connections are the main message passing service in our body. Through this research we are trying to get a better understanding about connections between neurons.  

More Information - https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/what-neuron

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