Google Research has teamed up with Harvard to map the brain in 3D using artificial intelligence. The goal is to better understand neurological disorders and answer fundamental questions about how the organ works. The team used AI techniques to create a detailed 3D map of a small section of the human brain. They generated a massive 1.4 petabytes of data by imaging just one cubic millimetre of tissue.
The team, led by Google neuroscientist Viren Jain, developed artificial intelligence models that could stitch together microscope images to reconstruct the entire sample in 3D, allowing them to delve into the intricate details of the brain. The research has been going on for about ten years, starting with a small piece of human brain obtained by Dr Jeffrey Lichtman at Harvard from an epilepsy patient undergoing surgery. Using advanced imaging techniques and electron microscopy, the team painstakingly reconstructed the brain’s wiring patterns, revealing the intricate connections between individual cells.
The researchers have made the dataset with the aim of providing valuable insights into the mysteries of the human brain. Their collaborative efforts have opened up new possibilities for future studies and discoveries in neuroscience.
All images courtesy of GOOGLE RESEARCH & LICHTMAN LAB (HARVARD UNIVERSITY)
