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New breakthrough in brain research has been achieved with the mapping of brain cells and nerve connections from a sample size of half a grain of rice. This data, amounting to hundreds of terabytes, has allowed researchers to create the largest 3D model of the human brain to date. The model, which is about the size of a cubic millimeter, includes 57,000 cells, 230 millimeters of blood vessels, and 150 million synapses.
Researchers from Harvard University and Google’s research institute published their findings in a research article in Science and The Harvard Gazette. The sample used for modeling was obtained from a 45-year-old woman whose brain was operated on for epilepsy treatment. It came from the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for functions such as learning, problem-solving, and sensory perception.
To create the model, the sample was immersed in preservatives and stained with heavy metals to distinguish cells. It was then cut into 5,000 pieces
