A groundbreaking 3D map of a mouse’s visual cortex has been completed, offering unprecedented insight into how neurons connect and function. This achievement may hold the key to understanding what makes us human.
A groundbreaking 3D map of a mouse’s visual cortex has been completed, offering an unprecedented insight into how neurons connect and function. This achievement, which took seven years to complete and involved over 150 researchers from three institutions, may hold the key to understanding what makes us human.
Mouse brain mapping involves creating detailed maps of a mouse's brain structure and function.
This process uses advanced imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to visualize the brain's neural connections and pathways.
Research has shown that mice share many similarities with humans in terms of brain organization and function.
By studying mouse brains, scientists can gain insights into human neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
The new map captures a cubic millimetre of a mouse’s visual cortex, revealing the staggering complexity of the brain. Despite its diminutive size, it contains more than 200,000 cells with 4 kilometres of branches between them, and 523 million synapses joining the cells together. This intricate structure challenges assumptions about how neurons communicate, showing that they not only target nearby cells but also actively hunt out other cells dedicated to processing the same visual stimuli.
The researchers believe that insights gained from studying the mouse’s cortex can generalise to humans. As biologist ‘Francis Crick‘ once said, ‘this is impossible.’ However, team member Forrest Collman notes that brain tissue shares very similar properties in all mammals, making it a promising area of study. The new map will allow scientists to study brain function in extraordinary detail, potentially revealing crucial insights into how neural activity shapes behaviour and what it means to be human.
Human identity is a complex and multifaceted concept that encompasses an individual's sense of self, including their physical characteristics, personality traits, experiences, relationships, and cultural background.
It is shaped by various factors such as genetics, environment, and social interactions.
According to the American Psychological Association, human identity is composed of three components: the biological aspect (physical appearance), the psychological aspect (thoughts, feelings, and behaviors), and the sociocultural aspect (social roles and relationships).
Understanding human identity is essential for personal growth, self-awareness, and building strong relationships with others.
The researchers hope that their map will bridge some of the gaps in knowledge between neural activity and behaviours, eventually helping unravel complex traits like intelligence. By comparing this data with other maps of different species, scientists can examine what cells, wiring principles, and functional properties are specific to one species or conserved across several of them. This could ultimately shed light on what makes us human.
Human intelligence is a multifaceted concept that encompasses various cognitive abilities, including memory, problem-solving, and language processing.
Research suggests that human intelligence can be broken down into distinct components, such as fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence.
Fluid intelligence refers to the ability to adapt and learn new information, while crystallized intelligence involves applying learned knowledge to real-world situations.
Studies have shown that human intelligence is influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, with genetics accounting for approximately 40-50% of individual differences in cognitive abilities.
The work also builds on another study published last year that mapped every neuron in the adult fly’s brain – a breakthrough that has already revolutionised the field. The new map will be invaluable, allowing researchers to test theories of consciousness and potentially support or reject existing ideas. As ‘da Costa‘ notes, ‘if someone has a theory of consciousness, they might be able to ask questions of this data, which could then support their theory or reject it.’
- newscientist.com | Largest mammalian brain map ever could unpick what makes us human
