Decomposition of the Complex Structure of Arbors into Elementary Synaptic Clouds

<div><p>Synaptic density field of each cloud is illustrated by a set of concentric ellipsoids of different weights. An ellipsoid represents the equal-synaptic-density surface, whereas its weight represents the magnitude of the density. The outer ellipsoid, in addition, encloses the spatial extent of cloud ramifications. Yellow dots depict cell somata. The horizontal ℓ_|| and vertical ℓ_⊥ dimensions of one of the clouds as well as the displacement <b>r</b>₀ of its center from the soma are shown.</p> <p>(A) A drawing of the dendritic arbor typical for L3 pyramidal neurons.</p> <p>(B) A drawing of the axonal arbor typical for L2 pyramidal neurons.</p> <p>The drawings of arbors are based on data representations in [<a href="http://www.ploscompbiol.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pcbi.0010011#pcbi-0010011-b22" target="_blank">22</a>] by kind permission of B. Hellwig.</p>