RI-MUHC and McGill researchers make a breakthrough in understanding brain nanoarchitecture, using computer vision

A new study published in Current Biology reveals the nanostructure of brain cells at an unprecedented level of resolution.

Brain cells are among the most anatomically complex cells in the human body. They create an intricate web of connections that enables the brain to detect, process, encode and respond to diverse information. Importantly, communication breakdown between brain cells leads to disorders and diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease that affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide. Until now, our understanding of the elaborate architecture of brain cells and their connectivity has been hampered by the availability of imaging technologies and computational approaches. Without detailed three-dimensional (3D) models incorporating the precise shape and connections of brain cells, researchers cannot fully understand how the brain is built and how it may change following injury or disease.

In a new study published today in Current Biology, researchers from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University report the development of new powerful computer vision and machine learning approaches to decode the complex structural framework of brain cells and their intricate three-dimensional physical properties.

Read the full article on the RI-MUHC website.