Researchers have created a detailed map of every neuron in the brain of an adult fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), numbering around 139,000 neurons and 50 million connections. This is a major achievement that neuroscientists have aimed for over 50 years.
Previous brain mapping work focused on simpler organisms like nematode worms with only hundreds of neurons. The new fly brain map is significantly more complex as flies can see, walk, fly, navigate and communicate. It was a massive collaborative effort involving over 100 institutions worldwide.
The mapping required over 7,000 thin slices of a fly brain and 21 million images. Artificial intelligence was used to analyze the vast data. The results were then proofread and annotated through crowdsourcing. Over 4,500 newly discovered neuron types were identified.
The fully annotated interactive map will allow researchers to better understand functions like movement, vision and memory. It is expected to transform the field of fly neuroscience. Such detailed connectome maps have been awarded Nobel Prizes in the past for simpler organisms. This new high-resolution adult fly brain map may also be prized with a future Nobel.
Source: ScienceAlert
