To understand the full relationship between brain activity and behavior, scientists have needed a way to map this relationship for all of the neurons across a whole brain—a so far insurmountable challenge. But after inventing new technologies and methods for the purpose, a team of scientists in The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT has produced a rigorous accounting of the neurons in the tractably tiny brain of a humble C. elegans worm, mapping out how its brain cells encode almost all of its essential behaviors, such as movement and feeding.
represent the worm's behaviors. Applying that model specifically to each cell, the team produced an atlas of how most cells, and the circuits they take part in, encode the animal's actions. The atlas therefore reveals the underlying"logic" of how the worm's brain produces a sophisticated and flexible repertoire of behaviors, even as its environmental circumstances change.
A two minute-long excerpt from an example neural/behavioral dataset. The blue, orange, and green dots are targets for tracking, which allowed the team to locate the worm’s head and keep the animal centered in view. A separate view of the microscope tracks simultaneous activity of each brain cell. Credit: Flavell Lab/MIT Picower Institute
For example, while the behavior of wriggling around one's little laboratory dish might seem like a very simple act, neurons represented factors such as speed, steering, and whether the worm is eating or not. In some cases they represented the animal's motion spanning back in time by about a minute. In fitting the model, the research team used a probabilistic modeling approach that allowed them to understand how certain they were about each fit model parameter, an approach pioneered by co-author Vikash Mansinghka, a principal research scientist who leads MIT's Probabilistic Computing Project.In creating a model that could quantify and predict how any brain cell would represent behavior, the team initially gathered data from neurons without tracking the cells' specific identities.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Over On TikTok People Are Cracking Eggs On Their Kids’ HeadsThe egg cracking challenge controversy is rife over on TikTok.
Weiterlesen »
From 'magical' to 'rip it out': different brain implant experiencesIan Burkhart looked down at his hand and imagined closing it. To his amazement, it closed.
Weiterlesen »
ALS patient pioneering brain-computer connectionAs a rare form of Lou Gehrig's disease paralyzes his body, Rodney Gorham hopes a pioneering link between his brain and a computer will help others after he is gone.
Weiterlesen »
Breakthrough project reveals extraordinary diversity of brain changes in people with mental illnessesA breakthrough project mapping brain changes in nearly 1,300 people diagnosed with six different types of mental illness has revealed the extraordinary diversity of brain changes found in people with conditions like major depression and schizophrenia.
Weiterlesen »