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brain mapping

·April 9, 2025·7 min read

World’s Most Detailed Brain Map Built From a Grain of Brain Tissue

Scientists have created the most detailed wiring diagram of a mammalian brain to date, mapping every cell and synapse in a cubic millimeter of a mouse’s visual cortex. Using cutting-edge microscopy, AI, and 3D reconstruction, researchers captured more than 200,000 cells and over 500 million connections.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 1, 2025·5 min read

Brain Mapping Tool Reveals How Learning Rewires Synaptic Links

Researchers have developed DELTA, a powerful new imaging method that maps brain-wide synaptic changes during learning. By labeling synaptic proteins before and after behavioral training, scientists can now visualize where and how neural connections shift over time.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·March 6, 2025·4 min read

Mapping Brain Cells Vulnerable to Alzheimer’s Protein Buildup

Researchers have identified memory-related brain cells that are highly vulnerable to tau protein accumulation, a key factor in Alzheimer’s disease. Using the MISS brain-mapping technique, they profiled 1.3 million cells in mice to pinpoint which cell types are most affected.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 27, 2025·7 min read

Brain Map Reveals Early Signs of MS Before Symptoms Appear

Researchers have created a four-dimensional brain map that reveals how MS-like lesions form, providing new insights into the earliest stages of the disease. Using a marmoset model instead of mice, they tracked lesion development in real time with MRI imaging, identifying vulnerable brain regions weeks before visible damage occurred.

This shows a pregnant woman and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 17, 2025·5 min read

Pregnancy Reshapes Mom’s Brain, Reducing Gray Matter

Pregnancy leads to a 4.9% reduction in gray matter volume in 94% of the brain, with partial recovery postpartum, primarily in regions tied to social cognition. A groundbreaking neuroimaging study analyzed brain changes in 179 women, including non-gestational mothers, revealing that these changes are biologically driven by pregnancy hormones rather than the experience of motherhood.

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·January 13, 2025·6 min read

Brain Connectivity Patterns Link Vascular Disease to Cognitive Decline

Researchers have identified how cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) disrupts brain connectivity, contributing to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration alongside Alzheimer’s disease (AD). By studying brain networks and blood biomarkers in older adults, they discovered distinct but additive effects of CeVD and AD-related markers on cognition and brain atrophy.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 7, 2025·6 min read

Study Confirms Early Brain Differences Between Sexes

A study analyzing over 500 newborns has confirmed that brain structure differences between male and female infants are present from birth. While male brains were larger on average, females had more grey matter in regions related to memory and emotion, whereas males had more white matter and grey matter in sensory and motor regions.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 5, 2025·6 min read

Mapping How Aging Affects Different Brain Cells

New research shows that not all brain cells age equally, with certain cells, such as those in the hypothalamus, experiencing more age-related genetic changes. These changes include reduced activity in neuronal circuitry genes and increased activity in immunity-related genes.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 23, 2024·5 min read

Mapping Brain-to-Spinal Cord Pathways for Motor Control

Researchers have created a 3D atlas mapping brain regions that connect to V1 spinal interneurons, which shape motor output. By using a genetically modified rabies virus, they pinpointed connections from the brain to these diverse "switchboard operator" cells in the spinal cord.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 6, 2024·4 min read

Advanced Brain Mapping Unveils Behavioral Links

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking method to map brain activity, revealing how higher-order functions like thought and language emerge from complex interactions between multiple brain regions. Unlike traditional models focusing on paired brain connections, this new approach uses neuroimaging data to capture the intricate networks driving behavior.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 6, 2024·7 min read

Mapping the Brain’s Response to Social Rejection

A new study explores how the brain processes social acceptance and rejection, revealing how these experiences shape relationships and influence mental health. Using behavioral experiments and MRI imaging, researchers identified distinct brain regions activated during rewarding interactions and feelings of rejection. While acceptance triggers reward pathways, rejection activates areas tied to social value assessment, helping individuals gauge relational worth.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 5, 2024·5 min read

Mapping the Brain’s 24-Hour Clock

Researchers have created the first complete map of the circadian clock in the Drosophila brain, revealing it consists of at least 240 neurons—far more than previously thought. This detailed map shows similarities between the clock mechanisms of insects and vertebrates, offering new insights into how rhythms like sleep, feeding, and hormone release are coordinated.