Neuroscience as Art

• Only one submission per person, but multiple individuals from the same lab are able to submit unique entries.
• Submission must include one static image accompanied by a title/caption and a short description in non-technical language.
• The title and description should communicate the science in clear, concise language that is accessible to a non-specialist audience.
• Images must be the result of research affiliated with the University at Buffalo.
• Images must be original images created by the submitter(s). Use of AI to create these images is not allowed. We are looking for original images made during the scientific process, not images inspired by science.
• Participants agree that submissions can be used for publicity purposes, posted on social media, and/or used on the UB website.
• Submissions may be photographs, illustrations, visualizations, renderings and may include anything produced in the course of performing research. Examples include microscope photographs, telescope photographs, still images from video cameras, IR cameras, high-speed cameras, simulation results, 3-D renderings, data plots and mathematical visualizations, observations of natural phenomena, etc.
• Research posters should not be submitted.

• JPEG, PNG, GIF or PDF documents only.
• High-resolution (300 dpi or higher) images strongly encouraged. We can print lower resolution images if needed, but larger is best.

Submissions will be reviewed by a committee of Neuroscience faculty, with scores based on:

• Scientific content
• Connection between neuroscience and art
• Artistic quality  

Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three entries and presented at Neuroscience Research Day.

Click the submit button on this page.  

The form will ask for information about you and your lab, and here is where you can enter your image title and description.

You will be prompted submit your image at the upload link at the end of the form. Please name your image file with your name and first initial (ex: Jacobs_A)

1. This images captures a growth cone extending from a neuronal axon (green), with its actin filaments (red) reaching out like a hand as it weaves its way around looking to form connections with neighboring neurons (nuclei, blue). These growth cones guide axons to their target based on cues from the environment, leading towards their destination and keeping them from straying too far from the correct path. Presynaptic vesicles (magenta) are enriched leading into the growth cone, ready for assembly of the synapse once the axon finds its target destination. Captured by: Danielle Bailey, PhD
2. The brainstem (pictured in green) is a crucial component of the central nervous system, serving as a main thoroughfare for information flow be‐ tween the brain and body. Some call it the “reptilian brain” since it is responsible for vital functions such as breathing, heart rate control, and keeping us alert and conscious. Due to its thin, stalk-like shape and position beneath the brain, the brainstem is especially vulnerable to a concussion, which can strain or damage it when the head is hit. Tractography is a neuroimaging method that maps out the brain’s connections, or white matter tracts (shown here as multi-colored lines), and helps researchers study potential damage to the brainstem after a concussion. Captured by: Elizabeth Castro (PhD Candidate)
3. Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and Schwann cells work together as part of the peripheral nervous system to make sure messages travel reliably to the brain and spinal cord. In this picture, a DRG-Schwann cell co-culture reveals the beauty of these interactions: the neuron extends long axons, reaching outward to form connections, while Schwann cells support and guide them. As the axons grow, they begin to wrap in myelin, the insulating layer that allows signals to move faster, capturing the moment when the body’s communication network is being built. Captured by: Jazmin Corral (PhD Candidate)
4. This image captures the hippocampus, the brain’s memory hub, as a vibrant garden in red and green. The red hues mark the neuron cell bodies, while the green traces their branching connections. Together, these patterns reveal the delicate network that nurtures and stores our memories. Captured by: Sravya Koduru (MS Student, Neuroscience)
5. The picture is an imaged section of the cochlear nucleus, the first step of the auditory pathway after sound has been turned into an electrical signal within the cochlea of the inner ear. It has been labeled with three primary antibodies which when used in conjunction can distinguish between the auditory nerve fiber subtypes. Synapses colored in cyan, dark blue, and magenta on a particular cell type known as "bushy cells", correspond to subtypes 1a, 1b, and 1c respectively, and originate from the cochlea. Captured by: Gavin LaBouf (BS student, Biological Sciences)
6. This image reveals the intricate organization of the midbrain, where dopamine-producing neurons (magenta) connect with neighboring cells (yellow). The green signal marks mitochondria, which provide energy to keep neurons active and healthy—essential for maintaining motivation and reward. Captured by: Ajaykiran Mallavarapu (MS Student, Pharmacology)