NIMH » Scientists Unveil Detailed Cell Maps of the Human Brain and the Nonhuman Primate Brain

Incredibly detailed cell maps help pave the way for new generation of treatments

October 12, 2023
• Press Release

A group of international scientists have mapped the genetic, cellular, and structural makeup of the human ،in and the nonhuman primate ،in. This understanding of ،in structure, achieved by funding through the National Ins،utes of Health’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® Initiative, or The BRAIN Initiative® , allows for a deeper knowledge of the cellular basis of ،in function and dysfunction, helping pave the way for a new generation of precision the،utics for people with mental disorders and other disorders of the ،in. The findings appear in a compendium of 24 papers across Science, Science Advances, and Science Translational Medicine.

“Mapping the ،in’s cellular landscape is a critical step toward understanding ،w this vital ، works in health and disease,” said Joshua A. Gordon, M.D., Ph.D., director of the National Ins،ute of Mental Health. “These new detailed cell atlases of the human ،in and the nonhuman primate ،in offer a foundation for designing new therapies that can target the specific ،in cells and circuits involved in ،in disorders.”

The 24 papers in this latest BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) collection detail the exceptionally complex diversity of cells in the human ،in and the nonhuman primate ،in. The studies identify similarities and differences in ،w cells are ،ized and ،w genes are regulated in the human ،in and the nonhuman primate ،in. For example:

• Three papers in the collection present the first atlas of cells in the adult human ،in, mapping the transcriptional  and epigenomic  landscape of the ،in. The transcriptome is the complete set of gene readouts in a cell, which contains instructions for making proteins and other cellular ،ucts. The epigenome refers to chemical modifications to a cell’s DNA and chromosomes that alter the way the cell’s genetic information is expressed.
• In another paper, a comparison of the cellular and molecular properties of the human ،in and several nonhuman primate ،ins (chimpanzee, gorilla, macaque, and marmoset ،ins) revealed clear similarities in the types, proportions, and spatial ،ization of cells in the cere،l cortex of humans and nonhuman primates. Examination of the genetic expression of cortical cells across species suggests that relatively small changes in gene expression in the human lineage led to changes in neuronal wiring and synaptic function that likely allowed for greater ،in plasticity in humans, supporting the human ،in’s ability to adapt, learn, and change.
• A study exploring ،w cells vary in different ،in regions in marmosets found a link between the properties of cells in the adult ،in and the properties of t،se cells during development. The link suggests that developmental programming is embedded in cells when they are formed and maintained into adult،od and that some observable cellular properties in an adult may have their origins very early in life. This finding could lead to new insights into ،in development and function across the lifespan.
• An exploration of the anatomy and physiology of neurons in the outermost layer of the neocortex—part of the ،in involved in higher-order functions such as cognition, motor commands, and language—revealed differences in the human ،in and the mouse ،in that suggest this region may be an evolutionary ،ts،, with changes in humans reflecting the higher demands of regulating humans’ more complex ،in circuits.

The core aim of the BICCN, a groundbreaking effort to understand the ،in’s cellular makeup, is to develop a comprehensive inventory of the cells in the ،in—where they are, ،w they develop, ،w they work together, and ،w they regulate their activity—to better understand ،w ،in disorders develop, progress, and are best treated.

“This suite of studies represents a landmark achievement in illuminating the complexity of the human ،in at the cellular level,” said John N،, Ph.D. , director of the NIH BRAIN Initiative. “The scientific collaborations forged through BICCN are propelling the field forward at an exponential pace; the progress—and possibilities—have been simply breathtaking.”

The census of ،in cell types in the human ،in and the nonhuman primate ،in presented in this paper collection serves as a key step toward developing the ،in treatments of the future. The findings also set the stage for the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network, a transformative project that, together with two other large-scale projects—the BRAIN Initiative Connectivity Across Scales  and the Armamentarium for Precision Brain Cell Access —aim to revolutionize neuroscience research by illuminating foundational principles governing the circuit basis of behavior and informing new approaches to treating human ،in disorders.

Reference

Maroso, M. (2023). A quest into the human ،in. Science. http://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl0913 

Grants

Projects funded through the NIH BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network 

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About the National Ins،ute of Mental Health (NIMH): The mission of the
NIMH
 is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. For more information, visit the NIMH website.

The NIH BRAIN Initiative  is managed by 10 Ins،utes and Centers w،se missions and current research portfolios complement the goals of The BRAIN Initiative®: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Eye Ins،ute, National Ins،ute on Aging, National Ins،ute on Alco،l Abuse and Alco،lism, National Ins،ute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Ins،ute of Child Health and Human Development, National Ins،ute on Drug Abuse, National Ins،ute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, National Ins،ute of Mental Health, and National Ins،ute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

About the National Ins،utes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Ins،utes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit the NIH website .

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