Articles tagged with Connectomics
The National Science Foundation observatory will bring advanced electron microscopy, artificial intelligence, and powerful computing networks to researchers nationwide. The goal is to make imaging capabilities accessible to many scientists across the country, answering vital questions about the natural world.
Scientists have discovered that when brain regions agree, their shared activity lasts longer, but when they disagree, the mismatch quickly fades. This consensus-building mechanism could lead to a deeper understanding of brain function and inspire new AI system designs.
Researchers found strong similarities in small-scale structural properties and gene expression patterns between humans and macaques, but more differences in large-scale connections. Chimpanzees occupy an intermediate position between macaques and humans, with brain systems showing reorganization in sensory, motor, and internal informat...
Researchers have mapped the complete neural wiring behind taste in an animal, tracing taste signals from sensory neurons to motor neurons that drive feeding. The study reveals neural pathways that could explain how taste triggers anticipatory insulin release before a single calorie is absorbed.
The complete connectome of the fruit fly brain has been mapped, revealing new insights into how the brain enables sophisticated behavior. The 166,000-neuron map, developed through Janelia Research Campus's pioneering efforts, has transformed scientific research and pioneered new technologies.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory created the first cross-species brain map to link mouse and marmoset regions. The study found that 43% of mouse brain regions match with marmoset regions, shedding light on human brain function and potential disease insights.
Genomic Press launches Brain Health, a new peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the science of lifelong brain resilience, featuring research on glial plasticity and recovery from depression. The inaugural issue explores the intersection of fields including cognitive reserve, sleep, aging biology, nutritional psychiatry, and social sciences.
Researchers develop molecular tool called SynTrogo, which enables selective dismantling of synaptic connections in brain circuits. By harnessing astrocytes, the system reduces synapse number while strengthening remaining connections, leading to enhanced long-term potentiation and improved memory.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 33 studies found that nature exposure is associated with reductions in negative emotions and increases in positive emotions. Experts recommend integrating nature into urban design to promote brain health and treat mental illnesses.
Dr. Phillips's laboratory identifies abnormalities in prefrontal-striatal-limbic circuitry as biomarkers for bipolar disorder before symptoms appear. Her team tracks neural network development from infancy through young adulthood.
Researchers at the University of Notre Dame investigated how brain networks are organized and work together to form a unified system. They found evidence for system-wide coordination in the brain that is both robust and adaptable, suggesting that intelligence reflects how brain networks are coordinated and dynamically reconfigured.
Researchers developed an experimental protocol to monitor brain activity in mouse models, finding that brain activity shifts from inner layers to cortex throughout the day. This discovery could lead to new methods for assessing fatigue and understanding mental health issues.
Researchers identified five phases of brain structure, each supported by four turning points between birth and death, revealing key developments in cognitive performance, neural efficiency, and regional compartmentalization. The study provides context for understanding why brains develop differently at various stages of life.
Researchers used data from the Human Connectome Project to build computational models that linked connectivity with brain activation across various cognitive processes. The findings show a consistent correlation between connectivity and function, suggesting that specific patterns of connectivity can predict brain activity.
Researchers developed a new method to correct for variations in brain imaging measurements, reducing bias and increasing the accuracy of studies on ADHD. The traveling-subject method demonstrated reduced measurement bias while maintaining sampling bias, revealing decreased brain volume in critical regions for cognitive functions.
A study found that evaluators' musical experience influences the sight-over-sound effect, reducing its impact for those with auditory expertise. The study used Japanese high school brass band competitions and found no significant evidence of the effect in musicians, but a stronger presence in non-musicians.
A new study reveals that Alzheimer's risk genes influence tau buildup and spread in distinct pathways, challenging traditional views of the disease. Four gene types were identified: Network-Aligned Vulnerability and Resilience, and Network-Independent Vulnerability and Resilience.
A new microscopy method, LICONN, developed by ISTA scientists and Google Research, can reconstruct mammalian brain tissue with all synaptic connections between neurons. This technique uses standard light microscopes and hydrogel to achieve high resolution and opens up possibilities for visualizing complex molecular machinery.
The Open Brain Institute launches a groundbreaking platform to simulate and study digital brains, empowering researchers to explore brain complexity and diseases. With its virtual neuroscience laboratories, the OBI enables global collaboration and access to cutting-edge virtual labs.
Researchers used super high-resolution 3D electron microscopy images to study primary cilia in mouse brain tissue, revealing new information about their organization and function. The findings provide insights into how cilia behave in their natural environment and could help scientists understand their role in disease.
Researchers have constructed a comprehensive map of synaptic connections between clock neurons in Drosophila, identifying novel neurons and connections that influence feeding, mating, and sleep behaviors. The study also reveals the role of light input pathways and neurotransmitters in regulating clock neuron function.
Researchers discovered a brain functional connectome phenotype related to multiple cerebrovascular disease markers that contributes additively to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration alongside Alzheimer's disease. The study highlights the role of cerebrovascular disease in reshaping our understanding of dementia.
Scientists have uncovered how aggression affects vision in female fruit flies, revealing three distinct mechanisms that regulate visual attention. This breakthrough provides insight into the link between sensory information and social behaviors, with potential implications for understanding and treating neuropsychiatric disorders.
Researchers at SFSU have created three-dimensional molecular and anatomical maps of the inner neuronal circuitry of octopus arms. These 3D reconstructions revealed that cells at the tip of an arm are different from those at the base, allowing for new questions to be posed about how cells communicate with one another.
Researchers reconstructed the entire anterior visual pathway of a fruit fly, a complex series of connections between eyes and brain navigation center. This insight contributes to understanding intricacies of animal brains and ultimately human brain wiring.
A Princeton-led research team has built the first neuron-by-neuron and synapse-by-synapse roadmap through the brain of an adult fruit fly. The map reveals connections within the brain at every scale, enabling researchers to better understand its underlying logic and potentially develop tailored treatments for brain diseases.
Researchers discovered two distinct neural mechanisms, 'Walk-OFF' and 'Brake', that control halting behavior in flies. The 'Walk-OFF' mechanism inhibits forward walking by suppressing neurons driving movement, while the 'Brake' mechanism increases leg joint resistance to prevent stepping.
Researchers have created the largest and most complete map of the fruit fly brain, detailing over 50 million connections between neurons. The study provides critical information about brain wiring and underlying signals, paving the way for future studies on larger-brained animals.
Using AI and the connectome, researchers can now predict individual neuron activity in living brains. The new model predicts neural activity in response to visual input and accurately reproduces over two dozen experimental studies.
Researchers Dr. Marx and Prof. Gilon propose a novel tripartite mechanism of neural memory based on metal-centered complexes within the nECM/PNN, enabling the encoding of emotive states through biochemical interactions. This new understanding underscores the need for a more holistic approach to grasp brain function and mental processes.
Researchers create detailed wiring diagram of motor circuits in fruit flies, revealing complex nerve coordination for leg and wing movements. The study advances understanding of how the central nervous system coordinates individual muscles for various behaviors.
A high school student, Michelle Du, helped develop a novel method to predict neurotransmitters from insect connectomes using neural networks. The method has been used in various neuroscience studies and provides valuable insights into brain circuit function.
Researchers discovered that cerebellar nuclei make a surprising contribution to associative learning by strengthening connections with mossy fibers. Optogenetic experiments also showed that the nuclei can support well-timed learning. The study's findings have implications for understanding cerebellum function and potential treatments f...
A team of neuroscientists and physicists at Princeton University studied the brain of Caenorhabditis elegans to understand how information flows through a network of interacting neurons. They used optogenetics to activate individual neurons and observe how other neurons responded, shedding light on the complex neural connections.
The Digital Twin Brain platform combines intricate brain atlases and dynamic neural models to simulate human brain functions. This innovative approach holds promise for advancing artificial general intelligence and precision mental healthcare.
Researchers found that fly brain uses a three-step computation to distinguish motion patterns, dividing the workload across multiple levels. This approach helps flies detect even slight changes in motion and stay on course.
A UMass Amherst neuroscientist is mapping the brain of a sea slug to study how neurons are added to functional neural circuits, shedding light on how this process contributes to neurological conditions. The project aims to provide an unprecedented look at brain development and potentially inform human brain development.
Researchers used brain imaging to identify multiple subtypes of depression, finding distinct deviation patterns in functional connectivity among brain regions. This study provides leads for developing better treatments and personalized therapeutic interventions.
A study by Mayo Clinic researchers found that brain transmission speeds continue to increase into early adulthood, reaching a plateau around age 30-40. This may help clinicians offer therapies to treat disorders such as anxiety and depression that emerge during late adolescence and early adulthood.
Researchers used a novel brain imaging technique to visualize subtle brain changes in pre-symptomatic Alzheimer's patients. They found that individualized brain fingerprints can detect variations in brain function associated with worsening information processing.
Researchers have built the first ever map showing every single neuron and how they're wired together in the fruit fly larva's brain. This huge step forwards in science will help us understand basic principles of signal travel through the brain, leading to behavior and learning.
Researchers have completed the most advanced brain map to date, tracing every neural connection in the brain of a larval fruit fly. The team's achievement is expected to underpin future brain research and inspire new machine learning architectures.
The Janelia FlyLight Project Team has released over 74,000 images of fruit fly brain neurons, generated from more than 5,000 different genetically modified fly strains. These images are now freely available for scientists to quickly and easily find the neurons they need to test theories about the nervous system.
Researchers aim to create comprehensive maps of how neurons connect to each other, exploring neural circuits that underlie behavior. By studying connectivity and neural activity, scientists hope to understand the structure of the brain and its role in our sense of self.
The Human Brain Project researchers have developed a unique method called 3D Polarised Light Imaging (3D-PLI) to visualize nerve fibers at microscopic resolution. By combining different experimental methods and integrating data into multilevel atlases, the team gained new insights into brain connectivity.
Researchers found that experiencing reward enhances connectivity between the default mode network (DMN) and the ventral striatum. This effect was specific to the DMN and correlated with personality characteristics related to openness. The study used data from the Human Connectome Project, a database of healthy participants.
Researchers at Northwestern University found that a thermometer-like brain circuit promotes midday siestas on hot days. The study, which used fruit flies as a model organism, identified absolute heat receptors in fly heads, leading to increased midday sleep in flies and potentially humans.
Researchers at the University of Illinois found that certain characteristics of the brain's connectome can be inherited from one generation to the next. This may contribute to differences in cognitive abilities between individuals.
Electrical synapses play a vital role in brain function and stability, influencing individual nerve cell activity. In Drosophila, researchers found electrical synapses occur in almost all brain areas, affecting visual processing and neuron stability.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that despite the functional importance of connections between far-reaching brain regions, the actual number of these connections is low. Researchers estimated 2.5 billion long-range axons in the cerebral cortex, but found that only a small percentage directly connected key functional areas.
A large-scale study aims to understand how individual brains change over time, identifying factors that increase cognitive decline risk and those that confer resilience. The Adult Aging Brain Connectome study will follow 1,000 participants across a decade, collecting brain scans, blood samples, and demographic data.
The human brain contains trillions of contact points, requiring massive computational resources. Researchers outline the need for exascale computing power to tackle brain complexity.
Research reveals brief DBS exposure triggers significant brain state changes and sustained antidepressant response. A decrease in beta power is identified as a novel biomarker for DBS treatment optimization.
The USC Institute is launching a $3 million global consortium study to analyze brain imaging, genetics, and clinical data from 20 countries. The study aims to understand how Parkinson's disease progresses in the brain and explore genetic factors contributing to risk.
Georgia State University researcher Vince Calhoun has received a $3.5 million grant to develop new methods for capturing dynamic connectivity in the brain and identifying biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers aim to analyze real-time connectivity patterns to predict future cognitive decline.
A recent study found COVID-19 survivors exhibit abnormal patterns of brain connectivity associated with increased post-traumatic stress symptoms. The research team discovered three distinct states of functional connectivity in the brains of COVID-19 survivors, which are linked to symptom severity.
A new study demonstrates that artificial intelligence networks based on human brain connectivity can perform cognitive tasks efficiently. Researchers created a brain connectivity pattern and applied it to an artificial neural network, which performed cognitive memory tasks more flexibly and efficiently than other benchmark architectures.
Researchers developed a predictive tool using machine learning and connectome analysis to identify neuronal network patterns and predict individual recovery outcomes. The study analyzed 92 patients' brain structural connectomes, tracking changes in connection patterns during recovery.
Researchers in Japan have used machine intelligence to fine-tune algorithms for brain mapping by MRI, improving the accuracy and reliability of connectome estimation. The new technique generates more convincing results, particularly in detecting long-range nerve fibers, crucial for understanding brain function.
Researchers used connectomic mapping to study inhibitory neuronal circuitry in developing mice brains. They found that different types of interneurons followed distinct developmental time courses to establish synaptic partners.