Not-So-Gray Matter

摘要

Phrenologists used to have a monopoly on brain scans: They'd feel around on a patient's head for bumps and use a map of the skull to diag-nose a person's secretive nature or conscientiousness or even how much they loved their parents. Today, neuroscientists have better guides to our wetware. Using techniques like fluorescent microscopy and electrophysiology, they can trace neural pathways with astonishing precision, turning scans and bits of dissected matter into vibrant images that reveal the structures and signals that make you you.