With this brain map we are one step closer to total fruit fly simulation
TechCrunchAPR 20 2023
Princeton University researchers have reportedly mapped all the 139,255 neurons and 50M connections of the fruit fly's brain, potentially revolutionizing neuroscience.
Scientists of the university's FlyWire project say the most detailed analysis of an adult animal brain ever would open up “the mechanism of thought” for humans.
The artificial-intelligence-assisted completion of the wiring diagram, or connectome, of a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) reportedly took four years.The artificial intelligence-aided completion of the wiring diagram, or connectome, of a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) reportedly took four years.
This groundbreaking research opens up new possibilities for understanding brain function and could inspire novel machine learning architectures. The complete connectome of a complex living creature provides a valuable resource for studying brain organization and behavior. It's a crucial step towards unraveling the mysteries of more advanced brains, including human cognition.
Mapping increasingly complex brains is an enormous challenge that may not yield proportionate benefits. The fruit fly larva brain, while impressive, is still far removed from human brain complexity. The time, resources, and computational power required for mapping more advanced brains could potentially be better spent on other neuroscience research avenues that directly impact human health and cognition.