Connectomics is the study of the neural connections in the brain. It is a relatively new field of research that aims to map all of the connections between neurons in the brain, and to understand how they work together to produce behavior.
The term “connectome” was first coined by neuroscientist Sebastian Seung in 2006, and refers to the complete map of all neural connections in the brain. The connectome is thought to be similar to a computer’s wiring diagram or an electrical engineer’s circuit board. Just as these diagrams can be used to understand how a computer or electronic device works, scientists hope that mapping the connectome will help us understand how the brain works.
The human connectome is an incredibly complex network, with billions of neurons and trillions of connections between them. Mapping such a large and complex system is no easy task, and scientists are only just beginning to scratch the surface. A number of different techniques are being used to map the connectome, including microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
One recent advance in connectomics has been the development of “ Brainbow ”, a technique for labeling individual neurons with different colors. This allows researchers to track individual neurons as they make connections with other neurons. Using Brainbow, scientists have created some stunning images of neural connectivity in the brain .
While mapping the connectome is still very much a work in progress, there have already been some amazing discoveries made through this new field of research. For example, scientists have found that certain areas of the brain are much more densely connected than others . This suggests that different regions of the brain may specialize in different functions . Additionally , researchers have also found evidence for “ hubs ” in the brain , which are areas where many different types of neuron converge . Hubs are thought to play an important role in information processing and may be responsible for consciousness itself .