https://english.cas.cn/newsroom/mutimedia_news/202307/t20230717_333627.shtml
The renowned academic journal Cell published a research paper on “Rhesus Monkey Cerebral Cortex Single Cell Spatial Distribution Map” in its online edition on April 12, Beijing time. This research has produced the world’s first single-cell spatial distribution map of the rhesus monkey cerebral cortex at single-cell resolution. The research was conducted by a research team from China and abroad, including the Center (Institute of Neuroscience) and the Institute of Life Sciences of Hua University.
Understanding the brain is difficult. The number of primate brain neurons is enormous, and they form a neural network by interconnecting with each other. Abnormalities in these cells and networks lead to multiple brain diseases. To further the study of brain diseases, we need to understand the “periodic table” of the brain first. The rhesus monkey is the closest model animal to humans. Its brain is about the size of a human fist and contains more than 6 billion neurons. It is complex enough, but simpler than the human brain.
Because of the sheer volume of work, the team began their research this time with the left brain of the rhesus monkey. Brain diseases remain difficult to diagnose and treat today. One of the main future applications of this map is to support our understanding of brain disease mechanisms. In the future, this map can be used to identify new targets for brain disease treatment and new directions in medical practice.