![]() ![]() ![]() In the past several years we have been developing novel imaging methods to overcome these challenges. Thus, establishing the complete wiring diagram of even one type of neuron in the cortex poses enormous challenges. Each neuron receives synaptic connections from hundreds or even thousands of different neurons, and each sends outputs to a similar number of target neurons, spread out over a large distance. The cerebral cortex of the human brain contains more than 160 trillion synaptic connections. From a clinical perspective, connectomics will allow us to thoroughly examine the hypothesis that many brain disorders are “connectopathies”-in other words, the idea that the pathology lies in miswiring of neural circuits. From the basic science perspective, studying how the connectome changes as our brains mature will address fundamental questions of brain development, learning and memory, and comparing the connectomes of different individuals will reveal to what degree the pattern of neural connections in each human brain is unique. One of our major goals is to generate, in collaboration with others, a complete map of the neural connections in the brain-known as the “ connectome.” Like the Human Genome Project, we believe that connectome work is necessary from both a basic science and clinical standpoint. We are interested in understanding how information is physically encoded in the nervous system. Santiago Ramón y Cajal Professor of Arts and Sciences ![]() Knowles Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology ![]()
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