In the human brain, billions of neurons transmit unfathomable amounts of information across an elaborate signaling network that allows us to perform all of the conscious and unconscious functions that are essential for everyday life. How this system works, and what goes wrong when it fails, is a question of great intrigue and importance to scientists and physicians who want to solve health challenges that impact the brain.
While the idea of brain mapping may bring to mind images of wired electrodes attached to a patient’s head as neuronal activity flickers on a monitor, scientists have another tool capable of revealing the secrets of the brain: genetically-encoded protein-based fluorescent indicators (GEFIs) – or protein sensors, for short.
