Neuroscience
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Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, its functions and disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, developmental biology, cytology, psychology, physics, computer science, chemistry, medicine, statistics, and mathematical modeling to understand the fundamental and emergent properties of neurons, glia and neural circuits. The understanding of the biological basis of learning, memory, behavior, perception, and consciousness has been described by Eric Kandel as the "epic challenge" of the biological sciences.
The Golgi stain first allowed for the visualization of individual neurons.
3-D sensory and motor homunculus models at the Natural History Museum, London
Photograph of a stained neuron in a chicken embryo
Silver chromate
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Silver chromate is an inorganic compound with formula Ag2CrO4 which appears as distinctively coloured brown-red crystals. The compound is insoluble and its precipitation is indicative of the reaction between soluble chromate and silver precursor salts (commonly potassium/sodium chromate with silver nitrate). This reaction is important for two uses in the laboratory: in analytical chemistry it constitutes the basis for the Mohr method of argentometry, whereas in neuroscience it is used in the Golgi method of staining neurons for microscopy.
Example of Mohr argentometric titration near the endpoint: note the characteristic brick-red colour appearing due to silver chromate formation.
A different pyramidal neuron stained with Golgi's method (B&W with enhanced contrast)