Researchers have discovered over 3,300 different types of brain cells in a new brain atlas, shedding light on the complexity and diversity of the human brain. This effort, funded by the National Institutes of Health and led by scientists from the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, mapped the human brain in unprecedented detail. The scientists used new technologies to probe millions of human brain cells collected from biopsied tissue or cadavers, allowing them to activate different genes in different types of cells. The brain atlas is still in its early stages, with only a small fraction of the estimated 170 billion cells in the human brain sampled. While the newfound knowledge of these brain cells is significant, it’s important to note that understanding the human brain goes beyond cataloging individual parts.

Source: New York Times October 12, 2023 20:19 UTC