Theoretical neuromorphology is the science of using morphology to mathematically describe the shape and the connectivity in the nervous system.
In spite of some results, space and shapes were often not considered as susceptible of bringing information on the nervous system functioning.
This allowed Ramon y Cajal (1911) to found definitely the "neuron theory" (the brain is constituted of separate cells that communicate together) and to formulate the law of "dynamic polarization" (axonalwards).
With others, he pointed out the variety of patterns of neurons depending on particular cerebral places and already emitted hypotheses on the roles that could be played by particular forms.
One step has been the work of Mannen (1960) on closed and open nuclei reinsisting on dendritic morphology.
Since almost one century, an important corpus of theoretical tools, still poorly exploited, has revealed to be very helpful for the understanding of the nervous system.
The classic traditional forms were emanating from and could be described by using Euclidean geometry for instance in relation to the cartesian triedre (one perpendicular axe for three "dimensions").
In the case where the more advantageous is to have the minimal exchange, the chosen shape is generally the ovoid (such are eggs, grains, fruits, cetaceans, etc.
Tyner (1975) and Rowe and Stone (1977) have analysed the conceptual bases to be respected in the process of neuronal classification.
When many namings or identifications were done on the characteristics of the soma, it appeared clear that only a quantitative study of complete dendritic arborisations was able to offer a means for a neutral neuronal taxonomy.
We cannot understand the human brain without first elucidating the properties and function of its main unit elements, the neurons.
Conversely, research on specialized features of neurons is producing major fall-outs in other areas of biology.
In the tradition of the department, questions in these fields are approached in a multidisciplinary fashion using genetics, protein and lipid biochemistry, molecular biology and state of the art light and electron microscopy imaging techniques.