A pioneering research has produced the most intricate map of a mammalian brain ever documented.
The 3D diagrams showcase over two miles of neural connections, nearly 100,000 neurons, and approximately 500 million synaptic junctions—all within a fragment of mouse brain not larger than a speck of sand.
Dr. Clay Reid from the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle stated, "Within this minuscule particle lies an intricate network of connections, governed by principles we are just starting to unravel."
The specimen originates from an external section of the brain called the cortex—a zone implicated in vision processes. Times reports.
Dr Forrest Collman, of the same Institute, said: 'By studying how the cortex functions in the mouse brain, we can generate better ideas and hypotheses about how our own brains work.'
His team thinks that having the ability to chart and examine the brain’s inner connections at this scale could pave new avenues for understanding and addressing neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's and autism.
He referred to it as the 'Google Maps for the brain,' which goes beyond showcasing main highways to include every minor street, house, and individual rooms within those houses.
Similar to how individuals utilize Google Maps to determine the optimal path from location A to location B, or simply to verify if such a route exists, this comprehensive neural map enables researchers to identify whether two neurons are interconnected and precisely pinpoint where these connections take place.
The even more fascinating part of this study was that the mouse had to have its brain activity recorded while it watched YouTube videos, which allowed scientists to see how different networks of cells interacted.
Following this, they cut the tissue into 25,000 slices, with each slice being merely 1/400th the thickness of a human hair, before examining these sections via powerful electron microscopes.
The images were subsequently combined, and with the help of artificial intelligence, a 3D model was generated. The final result not only depicts the structure but also illustrates which brain cells interact and the manner in which they do so.
Nuno Macarico da Costa from the Allen Institute mentioned that one of the outcomes of their project reveals "just how astonishingly beautiful the brain truly is."
Including: 'Simply observing these neurons allows you to grasp their complexity and size, evoking an immense sense of wonder about the brain.'
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