Scientists Map Mouse Brain to Decode Visual Processing

casualSTEM delivers brief and informative summaries of the latest science news every Saturday. Full of jokes, silly polls, and a cartoon!

Mappy Mouse

Finally, we have a map for exploring mouse brains. Scientists zoomed in on 1mm³ of brain tissue to chart visual processing networks.

• 400k brain cells

• Over 500 million synaptic connections

• Surprising loops and neural detours

The map shows visual information flowing from eyes to brain, helping decode how mammals see the world. The open-source map enables anyone with a knack for mazes, or brains, to join the quest for better understanding mammalian minds.

Pro tip: be the second mouse

Catch-up on science in sweatpants