Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Tamil Nadu 600036, India.
Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan.
Cells. 2020 Jun 23;9(6):1528. doi: 10.3390/cells9061528.
The brain is an intricate network with complex organizational principles facilitating a concerted communication between single-neurons, distinct neuron populations, and remote brain areas. The communication, technically referred to as connectivity, between single-neurons, is the center of many investigations aimed at elucidating pathophysiology, anatomical differences, and structural and functional features. In comparison with bulk analysis, single-neuron analysis can provide precise information about neurons or even sub-neuron level electrophysiology, anatomical differences, pathophysiology, structural and functional features, in addition to their communications with other neurons, and can promote essential information to understand the brain and its activity. This review highlights various single-neuron models and their behaviors, followed by different analysis methods. Again, to elucidate cellular dynamics in terms of electrophysiology at the single-neuron level, we emphasize in detail the role of single-neuron mapping and electrophysiological recording. We also elaborate on the recent development of single-neuron isolation, manipulation, and therapeutic progress using advanced micro/nanofluidic devices, as well as microinjection, electroporation, microelectrode array, optical transfection, optogenetic techniques. Further, the development in the field of artificial intelligence in relation to single-neurons is highlighted. The review concludes with between limitations and future prospects of single-neuron analyses.
大脑是一个复杂的网络，具有复杂的组织原则，促进了单个神经元、不同神经元群体和远程脑区之间的协调通信。单神经元之间的通信，技术上称为连接，是许多旨在阐明病理生理学、解剖差异以及结构和功能特征的研究的中心。与批量分析相比，单神经元分析可以提供关于神经元的精确信息，甚至可以提供亚神经元水平的电生理学、解剖差异、病理生理学、结构和功能特征的信息，以及它们与其他神经元的通信情况，从而可以促进理解大脑及其活动的重要信息。本综述重点介绍了各种单神经元模型及其行为，然后介绍了不同的分析方法。此外，为了阐明单神经元水平的电生理学方面的细胞动力学，我们详细强调了单神经元映射和电生理记录的作用。我们还详细阐述了利用先进的微/纳流控设备进行单神经元分离、操作和治疗进展，以及微注射、电穿孔、微电极阵列、光学转染、光遗传学技术的最新发展。此外，还强调了人工智能领域与单神经元相关的发展。该综述最后讨论了单神经元分析的局限性和未来前景。
