A petavoxel fragment of human cerebral cortex reconstructed at nanoscale resolution

To fully understand how the human brain works, knowledge of its structure at high resolution is needed. Presented here is a computationally intensive reconstruction of the ultrastructure of a cubic millimeter of human temporal cortex that was surgically removed to gain access to an underlying epileptic focus. It contains about 57,000 cells, about 230 millimeters of blood vessels, and about 150 million synapses and comprises 1.4 petabytes. Our analysis showed that glia outnumber neurons 2:1, oligodendrocytes were the most common cell, deep layer excitatory neurons could be classified on the basis of dendritic orientation, and among thousands of weak connections to each neuron, there exist rare powerful axonal…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: NCS-FO-2124179, CREST, 2124179
• BI
  Broad Institute
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: NS104653, P50 MH094271, U19 NS104653
• IA
  Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity

  Awards: D16PC0005, D16PC00004
• SC
  Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute
• IB
  Interior Business Center
• NI
  National Institute of Mental Health

  Awards: RF1MH125932, MH094271, P50 MH094271
• CR
  Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology