Brain maps seem to come out in rapid succession these days. They take various forms: a map for word concepts, a map of individual cells’ activity, a map based on the organ’s physical contours.
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But these maps often come along with a problem: They may not sync up with the other maps. Now[,] a group of scientists ha[s] managed to sync up two of the most commonly used types of brain maps — for gene expression and brain structure….
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[The genetic maps made by the Allen Institute] has been likened to a Google Maps for the brain — a resource scientists can use to determine where they’re at in the brain and what genes are important there.
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The gene map…could allow for whole new types of studies of how our brains’ gene expression correlates with our brain anatomy, behavior, and disease risk.
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“So this is what I think the future is: making lots of maps, but then relating those maps to one another[,]” [stated Petra Vertes.]
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