As part of the international MICrONS project, scientists from the United States, Germany, and Denmark created the most detailed brain map by examining a cubic millimeter of the mouse visual cortex. In this area, they recorded more than 200,000 cells and 523 million synapses. What makes the work unique is that it combines data on brain structure with observations of its activity in real time as the mice watched video clips, including scenes from “The Matrix.”
The study showed that inhibitory neurons coordinate brain activity in a more complex way than previously thought: they interact selectively with excitatory neurons. The work opens up new opportunities for understanding and treating neurological disorders.
