Neuronal Morphology Goes Digital: A Research Hub for Cellular and System Neuroscience

The importance of neuronal morphology in brain function has been recognized for over a century. The broad applicability of “digital reconstructions” of neuron morphology across neuroscience subdisciplines has stimulated the rapid development of numerous synergistic tools for data acquisition, anatomical analysis, three-dimensional rendering, electrophysiological simulation, growth models, and data sharing. Here we discuss the processes of histological labeling, microscopic imaging, and semiautomated tracing. Moreover, we provide an annotated compilation of currently available resources in this rich research “ecosystem” as a central reference for experimental and computational neuroscience.