In a First, Scientists Record Decision-Making as It Happens Across a Whole Mouse Brain
1 min read
Summary
Scientists collaborating on an extensive project have recorded decision-making as it happens across an entire mouse brain for the first time.
The International Brain Laboratory project created a dynamic brain map of mice navigating a difficult decision-making task, using nearly 700 brain implants to record neural activity in 139 mice, capturing the activity of 620,000 neurons across the brain.
The rodents were trained to perform a challenge in which they had to use their front paws to turn a small wheel to centre an image on a screen.
Prior attempts could only measure small regions, and individual teams used their own behavioural tests, making it difficult to integrate data, but the new study combines almost three decades of research.
The findings could help to better understand neurological disorders that involve impaired decision-making, such as obsessive-compulsive disorders, Parkinson’s disease and addiction.
