Central nervous system (display 86)

Our knowledge of the central nervous system of vertebrates is far from complete. The encephalon of numerous species has yet to be studied in detail. Collecting living individuals in the field is not the only way to acquire samples. Indeed, this option is becoming less and less feasible and raises issues regarding ethics and conservation.

Anatomical collections have proven to be a good alternative. In fact, a specimen preserved in fluid can support DNA sampling or dissections for research purposes. But the potentially destructive nature of these techniques limits their use. To overcome this, non-invasive technologies can be used, such as Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) which allows the internal structures of the brain to be observed without causing it damage. Cranial endocasts are also useful scientific and historical resources, enabling the study of the cerebral morphology of living and extinct species. Even today, these collections play a role in the advancement of neuroscience.