World’s Largest Brain Map Created Using Mouse

Why in the News ?

A global team of scientists has created the largest functional brain map ever, tracing 84,000 neurons and 523 million connections in a mouse’s brain using electron microscopy. This breakthrough aims to unravel brain function and identify neurological disorder patterns.

World’s Largest Brain Map Created Using Mouse

Groundbreaking Brain Mapping Project :

  • Scientists have created the most detailed functional map of a brain to date using a mouse’s visual cortex.
  • The map covers 84,000 neurons and traces over 523 million connections between them.
  • This was achieved using electron microscopy to examine a tiny brain sample the size of a poppy seed.
  • The research, published in Nature, is a result of collaboration between over 150 scientists
  • The aim: to better understand how neural networks operate and how disruptions may cause neurological disorders.

Innovative Techniques and Process

  • A mouse was shown clips from sci-fi movies, sports, and nature to activate brain responses.
  • Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine used a genetically modified mouse whose neurons glow when active.
  • The brain tissue was sliced into over 25,000 layers for detailed scanning.
  • Using 100 million high-resolution images, researchers illuminated the intricate neural pathways.
  • Artificial intelligence helped trace these spaghetti-like fibers, painting each one for clear differentiation.
  • If laid out, the wiring would stretch over 5 kilometers in length.

Scientific Impact and Future Goals

  • The project provides a foundational dataset to explore brain function at an unprecedented level.
  • It inspires awe, likened to viewing galaxies, due to the complexity of neuron connections.
  • Scientists aim to eventually map an entire mouse brain.
  • The tools and methods developed could help identify abnormal neural patterns related to brain disorders like autism or schizophrenia.