Touch, Our Most Complex Sense, Is a Landscape of Cellular Sensors
1 min read
Summary
David Ginty of Harvard Medical School has spent more than two decades getting to know the intricate, tree-root-like neurons that bring the sense of touch to life.
Each type of neuron comes in several varieties defined by genes and the endings of their axons, with some further divided into subtypes that can also sense light touch or pain, temperature or even fat.
Ginty and his team use focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy to reconstruct the neurons in 3-D and visually stunning detail.
Beyond the practical applications for touch research (better painkillers, treatments for sensory disorders, and so on), Ginty is motivated by a sense of wonder about the fullness of the physical world.
