Mapping the complex structure and function of the brain is akin to trying to comprehend the vastness of space, but researchers have made significant progress by analyzing a small part of a mouse brain at an incredible level of detail. The study, which took nine years to complete, involved over 150 researchers and 22 institutions, producing the most detailed rendering of a mammalian brain on record.
Using advanced AI techniques and human checks, scientists dissected the mouse’s brain into 28,000 separate layers and identified connections between 84,000 neurons via half a billion synapse connections. This wiring diagram, known as the connectome, reveals not only the layout but also the way those wires communicate and work.
The study is significant not only for its scope but also for its potential applications. The human brain’s processing capabilities far exceed current AI models, making research like this crucial in understanding how it works. Additionally, the data will aid in the study of brain diseases such as dementia by providing a better understanding of how they can occur.
The researchers have made the data publicly available, and experts predict that it will enable scientists to identify abnormal patterns of connectivity associated with disorders. This breakthrough marks an important step forward in the digital transformation of brain science.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/a-tiny-piece-of-mouse-brain-has-finally-been-mapped-in-mindblowing-detail