It’s true, we really are wired, and now we have gorgeous, multi-colored images to prove it. Okay, wait, our brains aren’t multi-colored, but the scientists who are creating these brain mapping images figured it’d be easier to sort out what goes with what, kind of like Garanimals, but for bundles of fiber. On a side note, does anyone else think that not making Garanimals for adults is a total missed opportunity? I do, and so does Ellis D. He asked this *exact* question seven years ago on Yahoo! and got nowhere, but I think it deserves far more consideration than it’s thus far been granted.
And THAT, people, is a prime example of why we need this kind of color coding to figure out what the heck is going on in our complex (and in my case, often tangential) brains. This mapping process is made extra tricky by the popular belief that our brain wiring changes after each experience. It’s no wonder people have been having a hard time understanding the causes and treatments for mental illness—we’re presenting researchers with a rapidly moving target!
It must be expensive to do this work, you’re thinking. Well, cha! But in 2011, the U.S. federal government committed $38.5 million over five years to something called the Human Connectome Project (HCP). (Remember last year when I kept using Wayne’s World words and quotes in my blog posts? It’s happening again.)
HCP’s goal is to shed light on connectivity both within the healthy brain, as well as brains which develop disorders such as dyslexia, autism, Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Its researchers are doing the mapping in vivo, running scans on real, live human beings such as Pallab Ghosh, BBC science correspondent and the writer from whom I first learned about this amazing project. And as Ivan Semeniuk wrote for the Globe and Mail, “Instead of the older, coarser model of the brain as a pastiche of regions that light up when certain tasks are performed, the new panoramic view is closer to the brain’s true nature: a stunningly intricate set of interconnected neural networks.” Woot!
I can’t post the pics as that would be a copyright infringement on my part, but you can see them on HCP’s website, in the BBC story or on the cover of rock band Muse’s 2012 album The 2nd Law. Seriously. And if you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m beyond excited about this research. So much so that it has almost made me forgive the government for cancelling the Space Shuttle program. Almost.
That is good news! When I was researching the tech for a previous novel, my main source was a book called A User’s Guide to the Brain (by John Ratey, I think), and it hit me then just how much we DON’T know about how the brain functions. I’m still convinced that we’re decades from understanding it fully, to the point where we can correct ailments with certain success, so it’s good to see progress being made.
It sounds like progress is speeding up exponentially, given the new technologies available to us. I read a quote that said the majority of what we’ve learned about the brain has come in the last 10 years! So it does give me hope that a lot of answers are just around the corner. Thanks for stopping by, Chris.
It’s something I’ve been trying to keep an eye on since I did that researcher a few years ago. Ratey’s book described the issues very well, e.g. symptoms of ADHD or autisim can be caused by a few synapses not firing, and likening it to a tree that’s fallen over (where the brain is Earth).
What’s most important is that these illnesses are seen as physical/chemical problems that can be cured.
Found the book — yes, it’s John Ratey. Next step, I’ll be looking for it at my library.
It’s a fascinating field of research, that’s for sure. I work for the Alzheimer Society, and I can’t tell you how dearly I would love to be out of a job because the neuroscientists have managed to find a way to halt the progression of the brain destruction dementia wreaks.
On the subject of pictures of our pretty brains, the Alzheimer Society of Canada has an interactive brain tour on their website that might interest you: http://www.braintour.alzheimer.ca.
Oh yeah, I’m with ya. I don’t know if you know, but my mum has dementia (on top of her psychosis). She’s recently lost practically all of her verbal recall. She makes up some pretty cool words sometimes, though. Thanks for sharing the brain tour — how very useful! I’ll be sure to go through it and share it even more.
It is really amazing what can be done, eh? The brain fascinates me from every aspect. I need to learn more! Thanks, Laura!
Aw, did you say ‘eh’ just for me? 🙂
I left working in Child Protection about seven years ago, just as this research was beginning to provide results – it’s wonderful how the research is making sense of behaviours and feelings that we could observe but not understand. There’s still a long way to go, but this must bring hope to millions.
Absolutely. I’m blown away by some of the advances that have been made in the last decade. This is the kind of technology I love!
Working in Child Protection must have been quite an emotional journey for you. I hope the happy endings outnumbered the sad.
Love this brain mapping stuff. Am reading “The Practical Neuroscience of The Buddha’s Brain” by Rick Hanson. Fascinating stuff:)
You always find the most interesting books, Cindy!
I am constantly amazed at how far technology has come in recent years. We really have the capability to map out how our brains look now? I mean, x-rays are cool and all, but they are black and white and feel primitive compared with this!
It just keeps getting more interesting, doesn’t it, Kayla?!