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The ultra high resolution scan of the human brain Screengrab via YouTube

Scientists create most detailed map ever of human brain

The researchers say the new model will let people zoom into the brain to see cells “the way we zoom into Google Maps to see houses.”

SCIENTISTS HAVE CREATED a revolutionary 3D model of the human brain which allows people to zoom into the brain to see the cells “the same way we zoom into Google Maps.”

Researchers created the incredible detailed model of the human brain – considered to be the most complex structure in the universe, containing 86 billion neurons – using the preserved brain of a 65-year-old woman.

The brain was sliced into 7,404 sections, each one no more than 20 micrometres thick,  which were stained and then digitised as part of a project called BigBrain.

The result is the highest resolution model ever made of a human brain, and will be made publicly available to researchers worldwide.

The ‘brain atlas’ has 50 times the level of detail of existing models of the brain and took around 1,000 hours to collect all the data.

The research was carried out at the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital in Canada with researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich in Germany and is published in the 20 June issue of Science magazine.

Researchers said the model will help to study normal development of brains and degeneration caused by disease.

“[It] offers nearly cellular resolution, that is detail close to the level of the cell, a capability that has not been previously available in 3D for the human brain,” said Dr Alan Evens, one of the co-creators of the model.

(Video: CBrainplatform/YouTube)

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    Mute Larry K
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    Oct 1st 2014, 2:01 PM

    50,000 raised and sone good done. loads of good people involved. A really positive memorial

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    Mute Ann Mahon
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    Oct 1st 2014, 7:58 PM

    Palliative care, makes a huge difference to families . My beloved son Tom received it before he passed away from Dr Emmet Walls and team in St Luke’s and Waterford Hospital. Well done to all the fundraisers . Shame on the successive Governments for failing to provide a Hospice for the South East ! People deserve to die with dignity .

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Oct 1st 2014, 8:20 PM

    Ann I’m sorry to hear you lost your beloved son, something no mum should have to bear, sending you my ❤️.

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    Mute Ann Mahon
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    Oct 1st 2014, 10:35 PM

    Thank you Joan xx

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    Mute stephen
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    Oct 1st 2014, 4:04 PM

    Joe Duffy, did some brilliant work on behalf of the Susie Long foundation and think he deserves a mention.

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    Oct 1st 2014, 4:35 PM

    People like this do more for healthcare in Ireland than any Gov. body of cronies.

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    Mute Cliff Walker
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    Oct 1st 2014, 4:23 PM

    Mayo Roscommon Hospice are also opening a hospice in Castlebar which is great news they have been fundraising for years

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    Mute Fox Trot
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    Oct 1st 2014, 4:22 PM

    He also filled a lot of air time because of her.

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    Oct 1st 2014, 4:33 PM

    go away

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    Mute Joe
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    Oct 1st 2014, 2:03 PM

    Great stuff

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