Traditions of Excellence: neuroanatomy at the forefront of the new era.

Abstract

Neuroanatomy is emerging from decades of neglect, where the synthetic approach, a neuroanatomical hallmark, was too often, as an aspersion, dismissed as "descriptive." The resurgence is in part driven by new technical advances (e.g., better visualization tools; larger sample sizes), many of which are briefly described here and treated in more detail elsewhere in this Special Issue. Another factor is the over-due recognition that a seemingly "descriptive" approach can be positively compatible with synthesis, integration, and conceptual formulation. The first two sections of this brief overview highlight advances in the level of microscopic visualization and the increasing availability of large data sets ("big data"). Illustrative examples of specific applications are drawn from the literature. A last section briefly discusses how neuroanatomy might be expected to develop further as the field continues to move forward.