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Spying on synapses


Signaling across synapses -- the tiny gaps between neurons, over a thousand times thinner than a sheet of paper -- requires multiple molecules to work together. To learn how neurons communicate, and ensure they pass across the synapses at the right pace and time, Nancy Xu of Old Dominion University and her team are developing new imaging tools and nanotechnology. These tools provide enhanced resolution and may lead to new insights about the role of abnormal signaling involved in brain diseases, injuries and drug addiction.

Credit: NSF

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