From Proteins to Dendritic Spines: Neurolucida 360 Plays a Crucial Role in Advancing Neuroscience
In the fast-evolving field of neuroscience, groundbreaking research on the intricate workings of the vertebrate brain yields new information every day.
Neurolucida®Explorer
The analytical companion for Neurolucida and Neurolucida 360 designed to perform extensive morphometric analysisProduct Overview
Neurolucida Explorer is the analytical software companion for Neurolucida and Neurolucida 360. The intuitive and easy-to-use software is designed to perform extensive morphometric analysis on neuron reconstructions, serial section reconstructions and brain maps.
Visualize and interpret data models in a 3D environment and automatically generate comprehensive quantitative metrics. With dozens of structural, spatial, orientation, and regional analyses, you can explore and export thousands of parameters.
Key Benefits
- Sophisticated tools for neuroanatomical morphometric analyses
- Trusted, validated, accurate, reliable, and reproducible results
- Easily generate and export quantitative data
- Graphical 3D displays for dynamic visualization
- Generate publication-ready figures
- Multi-file processing with batch analysis tools
Comprehensive quantitative neuroanatomical morphometric analysis
Neurolucida Explorer, the analytical software companion for Neurolucida and Neurolucida 360 programs, empowers researchers with the analytical tools needed to produce accurate quantitative metrics for a wide range of scientific investigation. Neurolucida Explorer is equipped with dozens of neuronal and regional analyses that are customizable to your specific research questions.
We have removed the obstacles for rapid, high-volume, quantitative data analysis by programming all the complex morphological analyses, so you don’t have to. No scripting or programming skills are needed to use Neurolucida Explorer to its full capacity.
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Minimum System Requirements |
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Operating system |
Windows 10 or MacOS 10.12 |
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Input Specifications |
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Supported image file formats |
XML, ASC, or DAT generated in Neurolucida 360 or Neurolucida |
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Output Specifications |
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Tracing export formats |
Data model: XML*, ASC, DAT, NRX Vector: SVG Images: TIFF, JPEG, PNG Marker coordinates: TXT |
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* Our XML data file format, the Neuromorphological File Specification (NFS), was recently endorsed as a standard by the INCF. |
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Version 2024.1.1
Release January 2024
New features and enhancements
- New analysis added for calculating puncta distances along a branch
- Polar histogram, fan in, and dendrogram analyses were added to batch analysis
- An alert is now displayed when a file name exceeds the 30-character limit
- Puncta are now highlighted when selected
- The recent file list now updates during Neurolucida Explorer sessions
- The results tables have been updated throughout to enhance clarity and usability
Download Neurolucida Explorer product sheet here.
Neurolucida Explorer: Key Features
Quantify neuronal morphology
- Branched Structure – trees, terminals, segments, nodes, synapses, spines, and more
- Branch Angle – Planar, local, and local spine angles
- Vertex – Compare the connectivity between trees such as bifurcation points
- Dendrogram – Visual representation of a tree structure illustrating branches and nodes
- Spines – Quantify features of dendritic spines such as length, volume, branching, and spine type
Neurolucida Explorer: Key Features
Analyze anatomical regions
- Closed Surface – Measure neuronal processes within a 3D structure
- Proximity – Analyze the distance between two trees or structures
- Tangential Distribution – Analyze the length and distribution of neuronal processes
Neurolucida Explorer: Key Features
Explore and measure spatial relationships
- 3D Wedge – Analyze the distribution of neuronal processes extending from the centroid of the cell body
- Convex Hull – Measure the size of the dendritic field
- Layer Length – Quantify neuronal nodes, spines, and processes within anatomical regions
- Sholl Analysis – Quantify the branching of individual neurons
- Wedge – Quantify differential growth or retractions of dendritic processes
Neurolucida Explorer: Key Features
Investigate and illustrate the orientation of neuronal elements
- Polar Histogram – Quantify and illustrate the directions of dendritic growth
- Fan In Diagram – Quantify and visualize the orientation of dendritic processes
- Colocalization – Determine a cell’s location based on multiple markers used in double labeling
Neurolucida Explorer: Key Features
Analyze punctate objects
Puncta analyses allow you to perform morphometric and quantitative measurements on the puncta that were detected in Neurolucida 360. The specific channels used for the detections are respected and can be used to compare the different populations of puncta to each other and to other structures. The analyses include area, volume, colocalization, nearest neighbor, distance to structures, and number of puncta in closed contours, closed surface and layers. These results can be easily exported to most statistical and spreadsheet software.
Neurolucida Explorer: Key Features
Batch analysis
We have removed the obstacles for rapid, high-volume, quantitative data analysis by programming all the complex analyses so you don’t have to. Users can load multiple data sets into Neurolucida Explorer for batch analysis, sparing researchers the time and effort of performing repetitive data analysis steps. Neurolucida Explorer performs multiple analyses efficiently and additively for each data file. No scripting or programming skills are needed to use Neurolucida Explorer to its full capacity. For researchers who prefer to program custom analyses and operations, data can be exported as separate files for loading into other software like Excel, Matlab, Python, and R.
Who Is Using Neurolucida Explorer?
Neurolucida Explorer is used across the globe by the most prestigious laboratories.
News About Neurolucida Explorer
Scientists Discover New “Rosehip” Neuron in Human Brain
Neurolucida and Neurolucida Explorer Used for 3D Reconstruction and Quantitative Analysis Researchers used Neurolucida to reconstruct a newly discovered type of
Ohio State Neuroscientists Use Neurolucida to Analyze Brain Cells in Sexually Active Hamsters
Scientists hypothesize that during puberty, experiences influence brain development in ways that shape brain structure and even behavior in adulthood. One
Cited in Peer Reviewed Scientific Publications
Neurolucida Explorer’s utility is underscored by the number of references it receives in the worlds most important scientific publications. See examples below:
Doorn, N., E. J. H. van Hugte, et al.
An in silico and in vitro human neuronal network model reveals cellular mechanisms beyond NaV1.1 underlying Dravet syndromeView Publication
Pérez-Fernández, V., A. L. Thananjeyan, et al.
The effects of a highly bioavailable curcumin PhytosomeTM preparation on the retinal architecture and glial reactivity in the GFAP-IL6 miceView Publication
Gamage, R., I. Rossetti, et al.
Chronic neuroinflammation during aging leads to cholinergic neurodegeneration in the mouse medial septumView Publication
Stallings, N. R., M. A. O’Neal, et al.
Long-term normalization of calcineurin activity in model mice rescues Pin1 and attenuates Alzheimer’s phenotypes without blocking peripheral T cell IL-2 responseView Publication
McLaurin, K. A., H. Li, et al.
Constitutive expression of HIV-1 viral proteins induces progressive synaptodendritic alterations in medium spiny neurons: implications for substance use disordersView Publication
Soad, E. and B. C. Peter
Vascularization in mTOR Mouse Mutants: An Effort Not in VeinView Publication
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I perform Sholl analysis with Neurolucida Explorer?
Yes. Not only does Neurolucida Explorer have a dedicated Sholl analysis feature that automatically reports on the length and intersections of processes contained in each shell, the software generates a graphical and interactive display of the nested concentric spheres in a 3D environment.
Do I have to purchase Neurolucida 360 and Neurolucida Explorer separately?
Neurolucida Explorer software is complimentary to the purchase of Neurolucida or Neurolucida 360 software. Additional licenses of Neurolucida Explorer sold separately.
Can I install Neurolucida Explorer on a different computer than Neurolucida or Neurolucida 360?
Yes. Though Neurolucida Explorer can be directly launched from Neurolucida or Neurolucida 360 applications, the software can be installed separately on other computers in your lab to increase data generation and interpretation throughput.
Unlike other MBF Bioscience software, Neurolucida Explorer has a Mac-compatible version available.
Can I export Neurolucida Explorer-derived metrics?
With a click of a button, the tabular morphometric data generated by Neurolucida Explorer can be easily exported to Excel. For researchers who prefer to program custom analyses and operations, data can be exported as separate files for loading into other software such as Matlab, Python, or R.
Can I request a custom analysis that isn’t already included in the Neurolucida Explorer toolset?
MBF is proud to help bioscience leaders and experts push the next wave of innovation and discovery to benefit humanity. Given this, it’s possible you’re looking for customized technology for your needs. If that is the case, click here to get in touch with us directly. We’d be happy and honored to see if we can create something together that will move all of us forward.
What metrics are generated for dendritic spine quantification?
Neurolucida Explorer can help you comprehensively analyze dendritic spines in their full complexity. The spine analyses report on branch order, spine classification, overall length, length to center, head & neck diameter, surface area, volume, base coordinate, plane angle, and more.
Interested in elucidating and analyzing dendritic spine changes over time? Check out our MicroDynamix software.
What are the differences between Neurolucida 360 and Neurolucida Explorer?
Neurolucida Explorer is the analytical software companion for Neurolucida and Neurolucida 360. Researchers can use Neurolucida 360 or Neurolucida to generate neuron reconstructions and anatomical models from acquired image data or directly from slides at the microscope, respectively. Then you can leave the image data and microscope behind, and employ Neurolucida Explorer to quantify the Neurolucida 360 or Neurolucida-derived models.
Are there online resources to help me learn the software and better understand the analysis formulas in Neurolucida Explorer?
All MBF Bioscience software comes with comprehensive, context-sensitive help guides accessible online or offline. All of the analysis available in Neurolucida Explorer have been fully documented in the product user-guide. Additionally, you can use this matrix to identify which branched structure analyses would best suit your data.
Further, reduce the initial learning curve with our online learning center for how-to videos, quick guide PDFs, and product-specific webinars.
Testimonials
"We are enjoying using your fantastic software and it is making a difference to our work."
"Our system worked almost every day for the last eight years with no major failure (we published more than 15 papers using Neurolucida). A terrific machine!"
"I have been using Neurolucida for over 20 years now. It sets the standard for what a tracing program should be able to do, and the ease of use has continually increased over the years. I have undergraduates using the program within a week. Moreover, the support MBF Bioscience provides is unmatched--they are the best."
"We have been tracing dendrites for almost 30 years, using a variety of home-grown and commercial systems. We have used Neurolucida for almost 15 of those years now, and it is by far the most powerful, reliable, flexible, and easy to learn and use system of all that we’ve worked with. Neurolucida is clearly the product of people who thoroughly understand and appreciate quantitative neuroanatomy. This system has been absolutely indispensable to our research, resulting in over 25 publications. I can’t imagine our science without Neurolucida! Furthermore, the support provided by MBF has been simply outstanding, including program modifications, hardware support and development, troubleshooting, you name it - and always provided quickly, cheerfully, and knowledgeably. Nobody does it better!"
"I'm a huge fan Neurolucida's cell tracing and auto-detection features, which greatly assisted me in characterizing the morphology of abnormal neurons. Neurolucida is easily learned, intuitive, and was clearly designed by scientists."
"I have also been using Neurolucida for over 20 years with over 50 publications that have relied at least in part on the software. The product is marvelous and the support is the best of any software product I own. The work we do would be next to impossible without Neurolucida. The software is so intuitive that even high school students can do basic tracing almost immediately."
"Using Neurolucida, we were able to collect, store, and analyze large amounts of data with more precision and accuracy than would have been possible without the digital interface. The software allowed us to trace dendrites, get precise thickness measurements, and categorize spine types easily during tracing. The built-in Sholl analysis and spine analysis tools resulted in quick quantification of all the measurements that would have taken hours to achieve without Neurolucida. "
"Since we purchased our system four years ago, our experience with the MBF equipment and especially the MBF people has been outstanding. I cannot speak any higher about their professionalism and attention for our needs."
"Neurolucida is one of the very few systems that combines complex morphometrical quantification with beautiful display of the results."
Robust Professional Support
Our service sets us apart, with a team that includes Ph.D. neuroscientists, experts in microscopy, stereology, neuron reconstruction, and image processing. We’ve also developed a host of additional support services, including:
- Forums
We have over 25 active forums where open discussions take place.
>> Learn More - On-Site/Training
We’ve conducted over 750 remote software installations.
>> Learn More - Webinars
We’ve created over 55 webinars that demonstrate our products & their uses.
>> Learn More
Request an Expert Demonstration
We offer both a free expert demonstration and a free trial copy of Neurolucida Explorer. During your personal session, you’ll also have the opportunity to talk to us about your hardware, software and experimental design questions with our team of Ph.D. neuroscientists and experts in microscopy, worm tracking and image processing.
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