Revolutionary 3D Brain Scan: Generates 1.4 Petabytes from Millimeter-Sized Sample
JUST NOW, WHAT? In a huge step forward for brain science, researchers have recreated a tiny portion of the human brain down to the level of individual synapses. Furthermore, we are discussing more than a few neurons here. A remarkable 57,000 cells, 230 millimetres of microscopic blood arteries, and around 150 million synaptic connections are all beautifully detailed in this millimeter-sized cube.
The procedure started with a medically removed sample of an
epileptic woman's brain tissue, obtained during brain surgery intended to help
manage her seizures. The specimen was imbedded in resin and cut into an amazing
5,000 sections, each roughly a thousandth of the thickness of a human hair,
after being chemically prepared to improve contrast.
After that, each sliver was scanned using high-throughput electron microscopy,
producing an astounding 1.4 petabytes of raw data. The Google team then aligned
and rebuilt every 2D image into a comprehensive 3D dataset using a
machine-learning algorithm.
The map, which spans a cubic millimetre, or a millionth of
the size of the whole brain, has the highest resolution image of the human
brain yet produced.
The math smart guys at Tom's Hardware did some math to figure out how much space the whole human brain map would require. That would be equivalent to 1.6 zettabytes of storage, or 140 acres and $50 billion worth of data centre space.
Thus far, the model has provided some unexpected insights
into the cellular architecture of the brain. First, non-neuronal cells, which
create the protective myelin coating around axons, outnumber neurons by a ratio
of about two to one. The most common type of these cells are oligodendrocytes.
Each neuron connected to thousands of other neurons on average. However, the
group also discovered extremely uncommon cases of solitary axons creating more
than fifty potent synaptic connections to a single neuron, as well as certain
axons coiling into lengthy, entwined "whorls" for yet unknown
reasons.