Scientists Map 139,255 Neurons in First Complete Fruit Fly Brain Diagram

Oct 2, 2024, 03:59 PM

Scientists have produced the first complete map of an adult fruit fly brain, mapping all 139,255 neurons, over 50 million synapses, and 149 meters of biological wiring. The poppy seed-sized brain was mapped over five years by the FlyWire Consortium, involving institutions such as Cambridge University, Princeton Neuroscience Institute, and the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology. The project, which classified over 8,400 different cell types, represents a significant milestone in neuroscience. The detailed connectome, published in Nature, is expected to provide valuable insights into how a healthy human brain works and potentially offer clues on neurological diseases. Advances in computing and artificial intelligence were critical in creating the three-dimensional map, and citizen scientists and volunteers played a key role in validating the data.