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Scientists Uncover Brain Structure That Looks Like A Galaxy

Scientists have created the most comprehensive functional brain map to date, thanks to a groundbreaking study involving a mouse that watched clips from The Matrix and other videos. The map illustrates the intricate web of activity between 84,000 neurons, all contained in a piece of brain tissue no larger than a poppy seed. Within this small sample, researchers traced roughly 500 million synaptic connections—junctions through which neurons communicate.

Published in Nature, the study features a detailed 3D reconstruction that visually separates various brain circuits with color. The dataset is now publicly available, enabling global researchers and enthusiasts alike to explore the brain’s complex wiring. Forrest Collman, a lead researcher from the Allen Institute for Brain Science, compared the experience of viewing the data to gazing at images of galaxies, highlighting the extraordinary complexity hidden in even a tiny portion of a mouse’s brain.

To conduct the study, scientists first exposed a genetically modified mouse—engineered so its neurons would glow when active—to video clips ranging from science fiction to nature scenes. As the mouse watched, a microscope equipped with lasers recorded neuron activity in its visual cortex. Researchers then preserved and sliced the brain tissue into more than 25,000 ultra-thin sections. Using electron microscopy, they captured around 100 million high-resolution images, which were reassembled into a three-dimensional model.

Next, artificial intelligence tools developed by Princeton University were used to trace each fiber and assign them unique colors, enabling researchers to distinguish individual neural paths. If these microscopic fibers were stretched end-to-end, they would span over three miles. Importantly, by comparing the structure of the brain with its activity during the video playback, researchers were able to link form with function—offering insight into how visual information is processed.

Experts say this research represents a crucial step in neuroscience, akin to how the Human Genome Project laid the foundation for genetic breakthroughs. The ultimate aim is to apply these techniques to entire brains, potentially uncovering abnormal neural patterns tied to disorders like Alzheimer’s and autism. As Princeton’s Sebastian Seung noted, these new technologies offer an unprecedented opportunity to explore the root causes of brain diseases. Harvard neuroscientists, unaffiliated with the project, praised the work as a significant advancement that will fuel future discoveries in brain science.