We’re experimenting with AI-generated content to help deliver information faster and more efficiently.
While we try to keep things accurate, this content is part of an ongoing experiment and may not always be reliable.
Please double-check important details — we’re not responsible for how the information is used.

Animal Learning and Intelligence

Mapping the Mouse Brain: Unveiling the Secrets of Visual Perception and Connections

In a massive scientific effort, hundreds of researchers have helped to map the connections between hundreds of thousands of neurons in the mouse brain and then overlayed their firing patterns in response to visual stimuli. This breakthrough is a critical piece of foundational science to build toward understanding how our brains process visual information to reconstruct the images we see every day.

Published

4 months ago

April 12, 2025

Tomy E.

The scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding the intricacies of the mouse brain. In an unprecedented effort, hundreds of researchers worked together to map the connections between hundreds of thousands of neurons in the mouse brain and overlay their firing patterns in response to visual stimuli. This breakthrough is a crucial piece of foundational science that will help us comprehend how our brains process visual information, allowing us to reconstruct the images we see every day.

The human brain contains 86 billion neurons that make trillions of connections with each other through electrical firings. The complexity of its wiring diagram and the rapid movement of electrical signals across it in millisecond time frames hold the secrets of how our brain enables us to think, feel, and act. Although the current findings focus on a tiny fraction of the brain, they reveal the complex connections between cells and show how those connections are wired to produce functional responses.

To achieve this study, researchers presented video clips to mice genetically engineered for their neurons to emit light when they fire. The neuron firing patterns in areas associated with vision were optically recorded across a cubic millimeter – about the size of a grain of sand. Within this deceptively small amount of tissue lies remarkable complexity: four kilometers of axons, the processes that nerve cells use to communicate with each other, intertwined to make more than 524 million connections called synapses across more than 200,000 cells.

To map these connections, teams worked 12-hour shifts for 12 straight days to carefully cut and image ultra-thin slices of the brain tissue using electron microscopes. Reconstruction was the most challenging next step, as it required accurate stitching together almost 28,000 EM images to align the connections that cross the volume of brain tissue. This was followed by months of tracing the connections using deep learning algorithms, manual proofreading, and automated validation.

Deep learning predictive models were constructed and validated to explain visual information processing in the cortex. The sheer amount of data collected to create this tiny map comes out to 1.6 petabytes, roughly the equivalent of 22 years of continuous HD video.

These results come at a time when maps of neurons and their connections are increasingly revealing the mysteries of the brain. In 2023, research funded by the National Institutes of Health Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative produced the first complete cell atlas of the mouse brain, including the types and locations surveyed from more than 32 million cells. Last year, the NIH BRAIN Initiative “Flywire” project led to the complete mapping of the common fruit fly brain, demonstrating the unique value of mapping the whole brain in its entirety.

Funding for this project was provided through the Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks Program of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity and the NIH BRAIN Initiative. The findings, published in a package of 10 papers published in the Nature family of journals, represent more than seven years of work performed by more than 150 scientists around the world.

Source:NIH/Office of the Director

Original Link:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409154645.htm

Up Next

Mapping Mercury Contamination in Penguins: A New Frontier in Environmental Research

Don't Miss

“The Traffic Jam of Fertility: Uncovering the Role of Protein in Fruit Fly Reproduction”

Animal Learning and Intelligence

Can Dogs See Through a Person’s Kindness? A Surprising Study Says No

Despite our strong belief in dogs’ ability to sense good from bad in people, new research shows they may not actually judge human character, at least not in the way we think. When dogs watched how humans treated other dogs, they didn’t favor the kinder person later. Even direct interactions didn’t sway their behavior. The study suggests dogs’ reputational judgments might be more nuanced—or harder to study—than we realized.

Published

4 weeks ago

July 19, 2025

Édouard P

As we often assume that dogs can gauge a person’s character based on their behavior towards them, scientists have long been fascinated by this aspect of canine cognition. However, a recent study conducted at Kyoto University in Japan has revealed that dogs may not be as perceptive as we think.

The researchers involved 40 pet dogs in the study to investigate how age and development influence their ability to form reputations of humans. The dogs were first exposed to observing another dog’s interactions with two humans, one of whom provided food while the other did not. After this indirect experience, the dogs then interacted directly with both humans.

Surprisingly, the results showed that the dogs did not display a significant preference for the generous person who fed them compared to the selfish person who refused to feed them. The dogs’ behavior towards both humans was random and did not exceed chance levels following either indirect observation or direct interaction.

“This study highlights the methodological challenges in accurately capturing dogs’ understanding and evaluation of humans,” said corresponding researcher Hoi-Lam Jim, who recently joined the faculty at Kyoto University. “It’s clear that reputation formation may be more complex than previously thought, even for animals like dogs that closely cooperate with humans.”

While this study did not provide conclusive evidence of dogs forming reputations of humans, it emphasizes the need for further research to better understand what influences their sociocognitive abilities. Future studies should aim to systematically compare dogs of all ages from different populations and life experiences.

In conclusion, while we often assume that dogs can see through a person’s kindness, this study suggests that our furry friends may not be as perceptive as we think. Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate how we understand canine cognition and give them the benefit of the doubt.

Animal Learning and Intelligence

The Generous Giants: Unpacking the Mystery of Killer Whales Sharing Fish with Humans

Wild orcas across four continents have repeatedly floated fish and other prey to astonished swimmers and boaters, hinting that the ocean’s top predator likes to make friends. Researchers cataloged 34 such gifts over 20 years, noting the whales often lingered expectantly—and sometimes tried again—after humans declined their offerings, suggesting a curious, relationship-building motive.

Published

2 months ago

July 3, 2025

Édouard P

The study, conducted by researchers from Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico, has shed light on an intriguing phenomenon: killer whales in the wild have been observed sharing fish with humans over two decades. The research team analyzed 34 interactions, where orcas approached people in various settings, including boats, shorelines, and even while they were swimming in the water.

Lead author Jared Towers explained that orcas often share food with each other as a prosocial activity to build relationships within their social groups. Now, it seems they may also extend this behavior to humans, indicating an interest in relating to us as well.

The research was published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology and involved collecting information from various sources, including videos, photos, and interviews with people who had experienced these interactions. The incidents were carefully selected based on strict criteria: the orcas had to approach the people on their own and drop the item in front of them.

Some remarkable patterns emerged from this research. In most cases (21 out of 34), the encounters took place while people were on boats. On only one occasion did an orca attempt to offer food to someone standing on the shore. Notably, in many instances (11 times), the orcas waited to see what would happen after they made their offering, and some even tried again when their gift was initially refused.

This behavior bears resemblance to that of domesticated animals like dogs and cats, which sometimes share food with humans. However, this research marks one of the first detailed descriptions of similar behavior in non-domesticated animals.

The researchers suggest several possible explanations for this phenomenon: orcas may be practicing learned cultural behavior, exploring, playing, learning about, manipulating, or developing relationships with humans. Given their advanced cognitive abilities and social nature, these outcomes are considered plausible.

This groundbreaking study opens new avenues of inquiry into the fascinating world of killer whales.

Animal Learning and Intelligence

“Breathe with Identity: The Surprising Link Between Your Breath and You”

Scientists have discovered that your breathing pattern is as unique as a fingerprint and it may reveal more than just your identity. Using a 24-hour wearable device, researchers achieved nearly 97% accuracy in identifying people based solely on how they breathe through their nose. Even more intriguingly, these respiratory signatures correlated with traits like anxiety levels, sleep cycles, and body mass index. The findings suggest that breathing isn t just a passive process it might actively shape our mental and emotional well-being, opening up the possibility of using breath training for diagnosis and treatment.

Published

2 months ago

June 14, 2025

Veronic D.

Now, let me rewrite the article to make it more accessible and engaging for a general audience:

Breathe with Identity: The Surprising Link Between Your Breath and You

Imagine if your breath could reveal not only your health but also your identity. Sounds like science fiction? Think again! A recent study published in the journal Current Biology has shown that scientists can identify individuals based solely on their breathing patterns with an astonishing 96.8% accuracy.

The research was led by Noam Sobel and Timna Soroka from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. They were intrigued by the connection between our brain and breathing, which is processed during inhalation in mammals. Since every brain is unique, wouldn’t each person’s breathing pattern reflect that?

To test this idea, the team developed a lightweight wearable device that tracks nasal airflow continuously for 24 hours using soft tubes placed under the nostrils. This innovative approach revealed that people’s respiratory patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints – and just as reliable.

In an experiment with 100 healthy young adults, the researchers asked them to go about their daily lives while wearing the device. The collected data allowed them to identify individuals with high accuracy, rivaling the precision of some voice recognition technologies. What’s more, the study found that these respiratory “fingerprints” correlated with various aspects of a person’s life, such as:

* Body mass index (BMI)
* Sleep-wake cycle
* Levels of depression and anxiety
* Behavioral traits

For instance, participants who scored relatively higher on anxiety questionnaires had shorter inhales and more variability in the pauses between breaths during sleep. This suggests that long-term nasal airflow monitoring may serve as a window into physical and emotional well-being.

But here’s the really interesting part: what if the way we breathe affects our mental and emotional states? Could changing our breathing patterns actually change those conditions? The researchers are already investigating this possibility, aiming to develop a more discreet and comfortable version of the device for everyday use.

Sobel notes, “We intuitively assume that how depressed or anxious you are changes the way you breathe. But it might be the other way around. Perhaps the way you breathe makes you anxious or depressed. If that’s true, we might be able to change the way you breathe to change those conditions.”

This study opens up exciting possibilities for using respiratory monitoring as a tool for improving mental and emotional well-being. And who knows? Maybe one day, your breath will be the key to unlocking a healthier, happier you!