Scientists have made history by creating the first-ever wiring diagram, or “connectome,” of every neuron in an adult fruit fly brain. This groundbreaking study has mapped 139,255 neurons and their 50 million connections, marking a milestone in the field of neuroscience.
The project involved scientists from around the world, including those at Cambridge and Princeton universities. Using high-resolution electron microscopy, they analyzed data from over 7,000 thin slices of a fly brain to extract the shapes of approximately 140,000 neurons and their connections.
This study builds upon previous smaller-scale efforts to map brain systems in insects and has significant implications for understanding human brain function. Fruit flies have about 140,000 neurons, which is a fraction of the 86 billion in the human brain, making them easier to study.
By mapping every neuron in an adult fruit fly brain, scientists can uncover basic principles of brain function without getting bogged down by complexity. The genes and pathways that control brain development, neuron communication, and learning are often conserved across species, providing valuable insights for studying humans.
The detailed map reveals substantial similarities in the wiring found between this study and previous smaller-scale efforts, suggesting that individual brains share inherent similarities in their structure. This could lead to breakthroughs in understanding human behaviors and cognitive functions.
Future studies will explore differences in neuronal structure between male and female fly brains, but for now, this research has revolutionized our understanding of the brain. The tools and techniques developed for mapping the fruit fly brain can be adapted for studying more complex brains, including humans, leading to potential therapies for neurological diseases and developmental disorders.
The study’s findings provide valuable insights into brain structure and function, offering a vital comparison for ongoing neuroscience research. “If we want to understand how the brain works, we need a mechanistic understanding of how all the neurons fit together,” noted Dr. Gregory Jefferis.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/first-complete-map-of-every-neuron-in-the-brain-revealed/