Science: For the first time, a digital map of human brain cell structure --- Julich-Brain.

1,2020 // --- Julich-Brain is the name of the first human brain 3D map, which reflects changes in brain structure at microscopic resolution.
the map has nearly 250 structurally diverse regions, each based on analysis of 10 brains.
more than 24,000 extremely thin brain slices were digitized, assembled and mapped in three dimensions by experts.
as part of the EBRAINS research infrastructure of the European Human Brain Project, which acts as an interface to connect information about the brain in a spatially accurate way.
a team led by Dr. Katrin Amunts published the new brain map in the journal Science, entitled "Julich-Brain: A 3D probabil atlas of the human brain's cytoarchitecture".
images from Forschungszentrum Juelich / Katrin Amunts.
under a microscope, it can be seen that the structure of the human brain is not uniform, but is divided into clearly identifiable areas.
these regions differ in the distribution and density and function of nerve cells.
with the help of Julich-Brain, the team now presents the most comprehensive digital map of brain cell structure, which is available worldwide through the EBRAINS research infrastructure. "On the one hand, this digital brain map will help to interpret more accurately the results of neuroimaging studies, such as neuroimaging studies in patients," said
Amunts.
on the other hand, it is becoming the foundation of the brain's 'Google Earth' -- because cell levels are the best interface for connecting data about very different aspects of the brain.
"brain" Google Earth in this way, the researchers made a significant contribution to the brain project. "Together with many of our partners in this project, we are building EBRAINS into a new, high-tech neuroscience infrastructure," said
Amunts.
"has been working on this three-dimensional map for more than 25 years.
dozens of experts used image analysis and mathematical algorithms over the years to evaluate slicing brain tissue and determine boundaries between different regions of the brain, which add up to nearly 2,000 meters in length.
differences between regions of the brain, the brain map shows differences between different regions of the brain, for example, in size and location.
, Julich-Brain displays the positions and shapes of each area as a probability graph.
the researchers found particularly large differences in the language-related Broca region.
, in contrast, the primary visual area is more uniform.
as part of EBRAINS, the Julich-Brain brain map is the starting point for combining structure and function.
the map has helped link data on gene expression, connectivity, and functional activity to better understand brain function and disease-occurring mechanisms.
"EBRAINS also allows us to use these maps for simulation, or to use artificial intelligence to explore division of labour between brain regions."
the resulting massive amount of data is processed using the EBRAINS computing platform.
" this computing power comes from the new European supercomputing network FENIX, which consists of five leading high-performance computing centers, including the Julich Supercomputing Center (JSC). "It's exciting to see how much progress has been made in the combination of brain research and digital technology," said Amunts of digital brain science at the
.
most of these findings are in the Julich-Brain brain map and EBRAINS.
they help us and a growing number of scientists around the world better understand the complex structures of the brain and work together to reveal the connections between things.
" (Bioon.com) References: 1.Katrin Amunts et al. Julich-Brain: A 3D probabilistic atlas of human brain's cytos. Science, 2020, doi:10.1126/science.abb4588. Centerpiece of the 3-D human brain brain publicly ed human brain project.