Tiny errors in electrode placement can determine success or failure of Parkinson’s surgery. This research develops high-resolution Polarization Sensitive Optical Tomography to map brain anatomy at micrometer scale—over 100 times finer than MRI. Automated scanning and 3D reconstruction create detailed connectivity maps, improving surgical precision and neuroscience understanding.

A researcher explains how anatomical differences in the vagus nerve drive inconsistent outcomes in epilepsy treatment. By dissecting and 3D-mapping human vagus nerves, the team reveals major left–right differences, enabling more precise electrode placement. This work promises safer, more effective nerve stimulation therapies for epilepsy and other diseases.