Retinal connectomics

Abstract

The use of electron microscopy (EM) to describe the detailed synaptic connectivity in the retina has a rich history. Recent technological advances in serial electron microscopy (EM) have placed a complete description of the synaptic connectivity of the mammalian retina within reach. These new tools have recently been used to densely reconstruct the largest piece of a mammalian retina to date. Connectivity mapping has also revealed an unprecedented degree of wiring specificity in retinal circuitry. This is only the beginning of what can be learned from the comprehensive mapping of retinal circuits. The field of retinal connectomics is rapidly contributing to the functional understanding of retinal computation and enabling wiring comparisons both within and across species.