Numerous recent studies have identified mutations in synaptic proteins associated with brain pathologies. Primary cultured cortical neurons offer great flexibility in examining the effects of these disease-associated proteins on dendritic spine morphology and motility.
Srivastava, D. P., Woolfrey, K. M., Penzes, P. Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Cultured CNS Neurons. J. Vis. Exp. (53), e2794, doi:10.3791/2794 (2011).