Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Microscopy Techniques01:22

Overview of Microscopy Techniques

The early pioneers of microscopy opened a window into the invisible world of microorganisms. In 1830, Joseph Jackson Lister created an essentially modern light microscope. The 20th century saw the development of microscopes that leveraged nonvisible light, such as fluorescence microscopy that uses an ultraviolet light source and electron microscopy that uses short-wavelength electron beams. These advances significantly improved magnification, image resolution, and contrast. By comparison, the...
Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:28

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...
Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy01:37

Super-resolution Fluorescence Microscopy

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy (SRFM) provides a better resolution than conventional fluorescence microscopy by reducing the point spread function (PSF). PSF is the light intensity distribution from a point that causes it to appear blurred. Due to PSF, each fluorescing point appears bigger than its actual size, and it is the PSF interference of nearby fluorophores that causes the blurred image. Various approaches to achieving higher resolution through SRFM have recently been developed.
Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:29

Two-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Two-dimensional (2D) microscopy encompasses a range of optical techniques that capture images within a single focal plane, offering detailed representations of microscopic structures. These techniques are essential in biological and medical research, enabling the visualization of cellular and subcellular structures with different levels of contrast and specificity.There are several major types of 2D microscopy, each with strengths and applications.Bright-Field MicroscopyBright-field microscopy...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Maternal Immune Activation Disrupts Epigenomic and Functional Maturation of Cortical Excitatory Neurons.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Prefrontal gamma oscillations engage dynamic cell-type-specific configurations to support flexible behavior.

Neuron·2026
Same author

Cell-type specific impact of opioid use disorder and HIV on the human forebrain and cerebellum.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Postnatal conversion of methylcytosine to hydroxymethylcytosine reconfigures the human neuronal epigenome.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

A Single-Cell and Spatial 3D Multi-omic Atlas of Developing Human Basal Ganglia and Inhibitory Neurons.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Spatial transcriptomics reveals brain-wide circadian disruption in an Alzheimer's disease model.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

A Rapid Approach to High-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging in Semi-Thick Brain Slices
04:35

A Rapid Approach to High-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging in Semi-Thick Brain Slices

Published on: July 26, 2011

Advances in light microscopy for neuroscience.

Brian A Wilt1, Laurie D Burns, Eric Tatt Wei Ho

  • 1James H. Clark Center and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.

Annual Review of Neuroscience
|June 27, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Recent advances in light microscopy enhance neuroscientists' ability to study brain structures and functions. New techniques offer higher resolution, faster speeds, and deeper tissue penetration for in vivo imaging.

More Related Videos

Whole-Brain Single-Cell Imaging and Analysis of Intact Neonatal Mouse Brains Using MRI, Tissue Clearing, and Light-Sheet Microscopy
08:49

Whole-Brain Single-Cell Imaging and Analysis of Intact Neonatal Mouse Brains Using MRI, Tissue Clearing, and Light-Sheet Microscopy

Published on: August 1, 2022

Micron-scale Resolution Optical Tomography of Entire Mouse Brains with Confocal Light Sheet Microscopy
09:49

Micron-scale Resolution Optical Tomography of Entire Mouse Brains with Confocal Light Sheet Microscopy

Published on: October 8, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 22, 2026

A Rapid Approach to High-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging in Semi-Thick Brain Slices
04:35

A Rapid Approach to High-Resolution Fluorescence Imaging in Semi-Thick Brain Slices

Published on: July 26, 2011

Whole-Brain Single-Cell Imaging and Analysis of Intact Neonatal Mouse Brains Using MRI, Tissue Clearing, and Light-Sheet Microscopy
08:49

Whole-Brain Single-Cell Imaging and Analysis of Intact Neonatal Mouse Brains Using MRI, Tissue Clearing, and Light-Sheet Microscopy

Published on: August 1, 2022

Micron-scale Resolution Optical Tomography of Entire Mouse Brains with Confocal Light Sheet Microscopy
09:49

Micron-scale Resolution Optical Tomography of Entire Mouse Brains with Confocal Light Sheet Microscopy

Published on: October 8, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Microscopy
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Light microscopy is crucial for observing neuronal properties, building on Golgi and Cajal's foundational work.
  • Traditional microscopy faces limitations in resolution, speed, depth, and scale for complex neural systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in light microscopy techniques relevant to neuroscience.
  • To highlight emerging capabilities for studying the nervous system at various scales and functional states.

Main Methods:

  • Survey of cutting-edge light microscopy technologies and methodologies.
  • Discussion of innovations in fluorescence imaging, genetic labeling, and intrinsic contrast mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • New microscopy methods achieve ultrastructural resolution beyond the optical diffraction limit.
  • Functional imaging is enhanced in speed, depth, and volume, enabling studies in behaving animals.
  • Portable microscopes and advanced animal preparations facilitate in vivo and time-lapse brain imaging.

Conclusions:

  • Technological progress significantly expands the scope and precision of light microscopy in neuroscience research.
  • Emerging capabilities promise deeper insights into neural circuits and brain function across multiple scales.