diff --git a/docs/source/blog/images/prairie_vole_annotations.png b/docs/source/blog/images/prairie_vole_annotations.png new file mode 100644 index 00000000..e429ff14 Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/source/blog/images/prairie_vole_annotations.png differ diff --git a/docs/source/blog/prairie-vole-atlas-added.md b/docs/source/blog/prairie-vole-atlas-added.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..3284f971 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/source/blog/prairie-vole-atlas-added.md @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +--- +blogpost: true +date: October 30, 2024 +author: Adam Tyson +location: London, England +category: brainglobe +language: English +--- + +# An atlas for the prairie vole _Microtus ochrogaster_ has been added to BrainGlobe +Prairie voles are a valuable model species for studying social interaction due to their characteristic pair-bonding behavior. +The brain of this species is structured similarly to the mouse and is only 30% larger, meaning it is particularly well suited to methods to map +brain anatomy and function using light microscopy, such as light-sheet fluorescence microscopy and serial section two-photon microscopy. + +To fully adopt these brain mapping techniques, a brain atlas is required (to use with tools such as +[brainreg](/documentation/brainreg/index)). Such an atlas was created by +[Gustison et al. (2024)](https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.87029.3), and has been packaged into the BrainGlobe format by +Sacha Hadaway-Andreae in collaboration with the BrainGlobe team. + + +![prairie vole brain atlas annotations](./images/prairie_vole_annotations.png) + +**Figure 1. Coronal view of the prairie vole brain atlas annotations.** + +This atlas can now be used within the BrainGlobe ecosystem, with the atlas name: `prairie_vole_25um`. + +## How do I use the new atlas? + +You can use the prairie vole atlas for visualisation like other BrainGlobe atlases. To visualise the atlas, you could follow the steps below: + +* Install BrainGlobe ([instructions](/documentation/index)) +* Open napari and follow the steps in our [download tutorial](/tutorials/manage-atlases-in-GUI.md) for the prairie vole atlas +* Visualise the different parts of the atlas as described in our [visualisation tutorial](/tutorials/visualise-atlas-napari) + +To use the atlas with other software such as [brainreg](/documentation/brainreg/index), please follow the instructions +for those tools, and simply choose this atlas from the user interface. + +## Why are we adding new atlases? + +A fundamental aim of the BrainGlobe project is to make various brain atlases easily accessible by users across the globe. If you would like to get involved with a similar project, please [get in touch](/contact).