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Navigating the Brain
23 September 2017

Navigating the Brain

Our brains are unique and incredibly complex, constantly forming and establishing neural connections that control and monitor an array of bodily functions, such as speech and movement. When we perform such functions, different areas of our brain become active, which we can study using a variety of neuroimaging tools. Scientists have now created a database of 10 individual brain maps that can be used as a resource by neuroscientists around the world. Pictured is one such map correlating brain areas with activity, created using functional MRI and resting-state functional connectivity scans while they were performing cognitive tasks and resting, respectively. The brain maps created are highly detailed and individualised, showcasing neural brain connections and their organisation. Adding to this database in the future will mean a more diverse sample of individual functional brain architecture, which could help shed further light on our body’s most complex organ.

Written by Katie Panteli

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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