Canadian Researchers Create Ultra High Reolution 3D ‘Big Brain’ Model of Human

A team of scientists from Germany and Canada has created a novel three dimensional model of a human brain known as the BigBrain that reveals the brain anatomy in microscopic details with a resolution of 20 microns that is 50 times superior compared to the existing models.

To create the model, the team from the Research Centre Julich in Germany and McGill University in Canada worked on a preserved brain of a 65-year-old woman. The team sliced the brain into 7,400 sections with the help of a tool called microtome, each of which was half the thickness of a human hair.

The level of resolutions in the BigBrain will allow scientists to gain a complete insight into the neurological basis of cognition, language, emotions and other process. This anatomical tool will work as an atlas for neurosurgery and help researchers better understand brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. This new model, which is a part of the European Brain Project, redefines traditional mapping of the brain dating back to the 20^th century.

According to Karl Zilles, senior professor of the Julich Aachen Research Alliance, the BigBrain model is the first ever 3D brain model that presents a realistic human brain with all cells and structures of a human brain, reports Counsel&Heal.

This model was completed in 10 years. The researchers stained each of the 7,400 slices in order to derive the anatomical details and later digitized it in a high resolution scanner and MRI, the results were then uploaded on to a computer.

Dr. Mojgan Hodaie, a neurosurgeon at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at University Health Network in Toronto, said in an email to CBC News, "Comparing this to the geography of the Earth, it would be like having one map that includes significant amount of detail of every street and neighborhood, and at the same time and with the same level of precision, tells us where the land masses are arranged and when do we get to the ocean."

Lead author Katrin Amunts stated that for people suffering with Parkinson's, the therapy involves placing electrodes in the brain.  But with the help of the new brain map, neurosurgeons can have a detailed look at the brain and can place the electrodes in more precise positions.

Later, the researchers plan to repeat this process in other brains to have more samples.

To view and download the brain scans and models for your work, you can access BigBrain Online

The study has been published on Thursday in the journal Science.