BrainBits^® are micro-surgically dissected regions of embryonic rat or mouse brain for isolation of live neurons in 20 minutes. BrainBits are live brain structures: brain tissue is preserved in *Hibernate^®, a nutrient medium that keeps neural tissue alive for weeks under refrigeration. Hibernate is also useful for the isolation of adult neurons and keeping neurons healthy during microscopy, flow cytometry, genotyping, or electrophysiology.