NeuroNLP is a modern web-based portal for navigating fruit fly brain data. NLP stands for Natural Language Processing, which means the website allows user to use intuitive plain English queries for in-depth exploration and investigation of brain structure. The data currently provided are of the following kinds: Neurons: 3D skeleton, neuron name, type, data source, neurotransmitter, transgenic lines, etc. Synapses:presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons, number of synapses. The NLP module allows for querying neurons and synaptic partners by a variety of attributes of the query targets (refer to Search Bar section below for examples). NeuroNLP can be accessed from any browser supporting WebGL. Try it on your smartphone!
NeuroNLP site consists of mainly 4 sections Header bar: provides operations such as hide neurons, create tags,etc. 3D visualizer: 3D skeleton visualization of queried neurons and the underlying neuropils. Information Panel: detailed information including synaptic partners of neuron pinned in the visualizer. Search bar: natural language interface for query neurons.
The Search Bar is the central querying interface. It supports natural language queries of neurons, synaptic partners, etc. By combining various attributes of query targets, you can create some very powerful queries. Here are a list of example queries you can try: show $MBON$ : search for any neuron whose name contains text "MBON". add /r(.*)DA1_(.*)_R_1/r : add to the current workspace any neuron whose name matches the regular expression. show $5813014882$ : show a single neuron corresponding to the Hemibrain BodyID 5813014882. show /:referenceId:[5813014882, 912147912, 880875861] : show all neurons with the listed Hemibrain BodyId. show neurons in right MB : show all neurons that have arborizations in MB. add postsynaptic $PEG$ neurons with at least 10 synapses : add all PEG neurons that are postsynaptic to the neurons in the current workspace and that have a connection with more than 10 synapses. show neurons that have dendrites in EB and axons in PB : show neurons that have input site from EB and has output sites in PB Note: show neurons will reset workspace (clear existing neurons, reset viewing angle). While add will preserve the current workspace.
The visualization panel provides a interactive workspace of neuron skeletons in the context of relevant neuropils. It allows you to change view, select neurons, pin neurons, etc. In addition the the neuron and neuropil mesh files, the visualization panel provides a list of useful buttons for ease of interaction. For more details regarding the visualization panel, click on the button on the top right corner of the panel. Pinning neuron of interest and removing all unpinned neuron by clicking the button is a good way to clean up the workspace and keep only the neurons of your interest.
The Search Bar is the central querying interface. It supports natural language queries of neurons, synaptic partners, etc. By combining various attributes of query targets, you can create some very powerful queries. Here are a list of example queries you can try: show $MBON$ : search for any neuron whose name contains text "MBON". add /r(.*)DA1_(.*)_R_1/r : add to the current workspace any neuron whose name matches the regular expression. show $5813014882$ : show a single neuron corresponding to the Hemibrain BodyID 5813014882. show /:referenceId:[5813014882, 912147912, 880875861] : show all neurons with the listed Hemibrain BodyId. show neurons in right MB : show all neurons that have arborizations in MB. add postsynaptic $PEG$ neurons with at least 10 synapses : add all PEG neurons that are postsynaptic to the neurons in the current workspace and that have a connection with more than 10 synapses. show neurons that have dendrites in EB and axons in PB : show neurons that have input site from EB and has output sites in PB Note: show neurons will reset workspace (clear existing neurons, reset viewing angle). While add will preserve the current workspace.