Journal BWJones's Journal: Computational Framework for Mapping of Neural Circuitry 15
New JonesBlog update. A Computational Framework for Ultrastructural Mapping of Neural Circuitry
We have just published a manuscript in PLoS Biology where we describe how to build a complete and accurate neural network. This of course is one of the long standing holy grails in neuroscience. So, this effort meets two goals: 1) It meets the goals of building a complete neural connectome (we'll be finished collecting all of the data with cell identity, physiologic response and all synaptic connectivity in approximately six days) and 2) It defines a workflow whereby investigators from around the planet can download and use the tools we are providing to build their own connectome projects using existing infrastructure. We are making those tools available here to enable other groups to assemble, browse and annotate the terabyte sized datasets required of connectome level projects.
Nice! (Score:2)
Got a tux picked out for Oslo yet? :-)
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Gosh, I am just one person in a team of very smart folks that did this. Yeah, Robert and I were the ones who came up with the whole idea, but it is his grant this was done on and if this project and the future data that comes out of it ever rises that high, I'll be happy to be in the audience in Oslo.
Believe it or not, I actually do own a tuxedo... ;-)
Very Interesting! (Score:2)
If I'm understanding this correctly, this is a framework where given a (dead, I assume) piece of neural tissue you can discern how the neurons are structured within it?
Just curious as to what the practical applications of this are. Aside from "Oh, that's how it's put together", what do you anticipate being the next major breakthrough that this will enable?
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Ah, the practical applications are manifold. Aside from understanding just how it is that neurons are connected to one another (a longstanding grand challenge in neuroscience), we'll have a better understanding for how the retina is constructed and what can go wrong in disease.
Understanding how neural systems are constructed will also help with the design and implementation of bionic retinas and other neural prosthetic devices.
We'll also have a better understanding for how neural systems work with implicat
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Sounds amazing, and it illustrates that I clearly don't understand the impact of this nearly well enough. I used to want to get into working with things like prosthetics, especially from the standpoint of merging the machine world with the biological world. However, that dream got sidetracked when I was lured in by the dark side... aka the world of software development. :) I never did end up taking any biology courses.
Is there a site you'd recommend where an amateur enthusiast can follow along with this
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I don't know of any sites to follow that would do this sort of thing. The interesting bit is that bioscience absolutely needs software developers. The problem has been that the comp folks dont speak the bio language and visa versa, so communication in the past has been difficult. This collaboration has been one of the more successful ones between CS and bioscience.
We do hope to have a public offering on our software interface, so everybody can participate in building and annotating these huge volumes of
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We are getting all of the connections including the per cell weighting based on synaptic size and coupling. :-)
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Amazing (Score:2)
This is indeed very cool. I'm looking forward to the day when my eyes begin to give out and I can replace them with new, bio manufactured eyes that interface with my neural circuitry perfectly and give me better than 20/20 vision.
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It's gonna be a few years, but the quote from Blade Runner has always driven me: "If you could only see what I've seen with your eyes".
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Great movie!
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All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain. Time to die.
I love that quote. Many of the pictures my fellow sailors and I have taken remind me of that quote.
"Batty: Yes!
[smiles]
Batty: Questions... Morphology? Longevity? Incept dates?
BWJones: Don't know, I don't know such stuff. I just do eyes, ju-, ju-, just eyes... just genetic design, just eyes. You Nexus, huh? I design your eyes.
Batty: Jones, if only you could see what I've seen with your eyes!"
XD
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Don't know if your HMO will cover it :)
Exciting (Score:2)
Wow, very exciting and ambitious. I've got your paper sitting on my desktop and will look forward to digging into it this week.