Tools for analyzing dendrites
From the Apr 20 issue of Neuron: Integrative Properties of Radial Oblique Dendrites in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons (or, for those who want just the N&V’s summary: Dendritic Enlightenment: Using Patterned Two-Photon Uncaging to Reveal the Secrets of the Brain’s Smallest Dendrites)
The technology is essentially high-speed two photon uncaging of glutamate, but the authors have used it here to create “realistic” patterns of dendritic input in an attempt to see just how dendritic arithmetic works. Although I haven’t read the paper closely, they claim to work out the spatiotemporal parameters underlying dendritic spike generation for pyramidal neurons.
A related methodology paper from a recent J. Neurophys. also uses fast acousto-optic deflectors and two-photon but for imaging purposes. It’s more descriptive about the setup and techniques for those interested in doing this type of work.