Supercomputer Simulation Maps Mouse Brain with Unprecedented Detail
TOKYO - Scientists have created one of the most detailed virtual brain simulations ever achieved, mapping the neural circuitry of a mouse brain with remarkable accuracy. The breakthrough, presented at the SC25 supercomputing conference, utilized Japan’s Fugaku supercomputer and builds upon existing cell databases and charts.
The team developed new software to efficiently process brain activity and minimize unnecessary calculations, enabling the complex simulation. “Fugaku is used for research in a wide range of computational science fields, such as astronomy, meteorology, and drug discovery, contributing to the resolution of many societal problems,” explains computer scientist Tadashi Yamazaki, from the University of Electro-Communications. “On this occasion,we utilized Fugaku for a neural circuit simulation.”
The simulation is poised to revolutionize brain research, offering crucial insights into how the organ functions and malfunctions. Studies of virtual brain maps and mini-brain structures are increasingly vital for understanding brain health and aging. Researchers have already used the model to make discoveries regarding brain wave synchronization and inter-hemispheric communication in the mouse brain.
“Our long-term goal is to build whole-brain models, eventually even human models, using all the biological details our Institute is uncovering,” says researcher Arkhipov. “We’re now moving from modeling single brain areas to simulating the entire brain of the mouse.”
The research is available online: https://doi.org/10.1145/3712285.3759819.
