NEUROSCIENCE 2022 WRAP-UP
By David Henderson, CEO
It was great to be in-person for Neuroscience 2022, and to see first-hand the amazing work being done by our partners and customers around the world.
The MPM Micro-Manipulator System was shown at four booths: New Scale Technologies, Neuropixels, NeuroNexus and Cambridge Neurotech.
At each location, I was gratified by the many positive comments from researchers currently using it for neural recording. I was even more excited to hear their suggestions for product developments that will help them with their ambitious research plans.
Neuropixels: Integrating the Manipulator with Trajectory Planning and Data Acquisition
Neuropixels showed the MPM system with the Open Ephys GUI, and talked about ongoing integrations to the Trajectory Explorer and Pinpoint applications. This development will lead to being able to view physiology and anatomy side-by-side during recordings.
Learn more about New Scale’s Pathfinder Software with trajectory planning and DAQ integration work in development.
New Scale’s MPM System in the NeuroPixels booth at Neuroscience 2022
NeuroNexus: SiNAPS probe launch
The NeuroNexus SiNAPS probe launch generated a lot of discussion, and we are developing probe mounts for the new probes. We continue to support existing NeuroNexus probes A32/OM32, A32/HS36 and A64 as well.
Cambridge Neurotech: Tools for researchers
Cambridge Neurotech displayed an MPM System and a range of complementary tools for researchers, including their 3D-printed head mounts.
New Scale’s MPM System in the NeuroNexus booth and the Cambridge Neurotech booth at Neuroscience 2022
Big Themes from Neuroscience 2022
As I talked to researchers and our partners, three main themes emerged:
1. Big Science and Big Data lead to Big Ideas and Discoveries
A particular standout was the Allen Institute for Brain Science’s talk about Observatories of the Mind – an ambitious project to map the mouse brain.
From their paper:
“We envisage a time in the future when sophisticated, well-equipped brain observatories — ‘mindscopes’ — will complement the many academic neuroscience labs that will continue to make the bulk of discoveries. We believe that this initiative signals the arrival of large-scale science in a field that is populated by small groups.”
Learn more at https://www.nature.com/articles/483397a
ILLUSTRATION BY PETE ELLIS, DRAWGOOD.COM
2. Tools are needed to help combat researcher shortages
There is a shortage of researchers, especially grad students and post-docs. Hence, the community needs tools that improve the productivity of those researchers. They need to collect more data, faster, and with greater precision, to achieve their goals. We’re excited to be providing tools to do just that.
3. Discrete tools are giving way to more integrated systems
These integrated systems will require less set-up and training time for researchers, can be used with fewer errors, and reduce wasted time and material. Our current MPM system and Virtual Coordinate System software is highly valued, and there is great excitement around our Pathfinder software integrations with trajectory planning and DAQ tools.
If you missed seeing us at Neuroscience 2022, or if you have a follow-up question, please contact us!
Technical Review By
Stefan Friedrich
Marketing Manager