Researchers have a general understanding of the anatomy of the brain and have sketched it out in some detail, but they are still unsure of how it processes information; this would need a thorough "circuit map" of the brain.
For the most complex critter to date—a fruit fly larva—scientists have now made exactly such a map. According to Neuroscience News, it is known as a connectome and depicts the insect's 3016 neurons and 548,000 synapses. The map will aid research into how both insect and mammal brains regulate behaviour, learning, bodily functioning, and more. Even better AI networks may have been inspired by the work.
Professor Marta Zlatic from the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology stated that up to this moment, the only brain structures that have been observed are those of the roundworm C. elegans, the tadpole of a low chordate, and the larva of a marine annelid, all of which had several hundred neurons. "This implies that circuit maps have not been used extensively in neuroscience. We can only assume how calculations are carried out because we don't know the anatomy of the human brain. But, we may now begin to develop a mechanical knowledge of how the brain functions."
The scientists used an electron microscope to scan hundreds of brain slices from the larva in order to create the precise map, which they then integrated and annotated with all the neuronal connections. From there, scientists utilised computer methods to pinpoint the kinds of "circuit motifs" and plausible information flow channels in the insect's brain. They even discovered that several structural elements bore striking similarities to cutting-edge deep learning architecture.
The brain of a fruit fly, which is far more complicated than a fruit fly larva, has been meticulously mapped by scientists. These maps, however, do not contain all the specific connections necessary to create a complete circuit map of their brains.
The team's next step will be to look into the neural networks that underlie cognitive processes like learning and judgement, as well as to monitor connectome activity when an insect performs certain tasks. A fruit fly larva is a straightforward bug, but the researchers anticipate observing comparable patterns in other species. According to Zlatic, "I expect that the basic circuit patterns that execute these fundamental behaviours will also be preserved, in the same manner that genes are conserved across the animal kingdom.
Follow Us