Greater insights than previously known - Scientists create new three-dimensional map of the brain.
Scientists in the US have managed to create an impressively detailed 3D computer model of specific parts of the cerebral cortex. This model is brimming with an astounding number of individual structures that showcase the intricacy of our brain.
The fragment of brain they studied consists of approximately 57,000 cells and an astounding 150 million synapses. This equates to a staggering 1.4 petabytes of data, which is equivalent to 1.4 million gigabytes.
► Gaining access to such intricate brain images is groundbreaking and crucial for fully grasping how our brain works.
Gaining unparalleled knowledge about brain functions
"The human brain is an incredibly complicated tissue. However, little is known about its cellular microstructure, such as the different synaptic connections," says the team. Abnormalities in these connections could potentially be linked to neurological disorders.
They used a tiny piece from the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex as a blueprint for their model. This section of the brain is responsible for learning, problem-solving, and processing sensory information.
► Neurosurgeons removed the specimen from a 45-year-old woman during an operation to treat her epilepsy by accessing a specific region of the hippocampus.
Upon removal, the fragment was submerged in a preservative and stained with heavy metals to enhance the cell visibility. The team then dissected the minuscule brain part into extremely thin slices, scanned each piece with an electron microscope, and merged the sectional images into a three-dimensional model.
► The researchers found neurons with up to 50 connections between them. Typically, the connections between two neurons number in the single digits. They also discovered neurons with tendrils forming connections around themselves.
"No one had ever witnessed anything like this before," says Viren Jain, co-author of the study. Describing the moment he first laid eyes on the images and zoomed into the synapses, Jain calls it a "spiritual experience."
The model is freely available online for other scientists to use. The researchers hope that their meticulously crafted brain model will be helpful to the scientific community.
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Source: symclub.org
