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Scientists Unveil Largest Neural Map of Mouse Visual Cortex

The groundbreaking study reveals 84,000 neurons and 500 million synapses, offering new insights into brain connectivity and potential links to neurological disorders.

Image
Researchers R. Clay Reid and Leila Elabbady examine data from the MICrONS project at an Allen Institute laboratory in Seattle, U.S., in this photograph released on April 9, 2025. Allen Institute/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Researchers Bethanny Danskin and Leila Elabbady examine high-resolution brain imaging and corresponding neuronal reconstructions from the MICrONS dataset at an Allen Institute laboratory in Seattle, U.S., in this photograph released on April 9, 2025. Allen Institute/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
Researcher Kim Gruver looks at tissue samples in the electron microscopy lab at the Allen Institute in Seattle, U.S., in this photograph released on April 9, 2025. Allen Institute/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES

Overview

  • Researchers created the most detailed wiring diagram of a mammalian brain to date, focusing on the mouse visual cortex and mapping its neural connections in unprecedented 3D detail.
  • The study identified approximately 84,000 neurons and 500 million synapses in a tissue sample the size of a grain of sand, highlighting the complexity of neural networks.
  • A multi-step process combined genetic modification, advanced microscopy, and artificial intelligence to reconstruct the brain's neural architecture and activity in 3D.
  • The publicly available dataset is expected to accelerate research into brain function and disorders such as Alzheimer's, autism, and schizophrenia by enabling the study of abnormal neural connectivity.
  • Conducted by the MICrONS consortium and funded by the NIH BRAIN Initiative and IARPA, the research marks a major milestone for neuroscience and builds on a decade of neural mapping advancements.