Nature Methods,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
21(5), P. 908 - 913
Published: March 21, 2024
Mapping
neuronal
networks
from
three-dimensional
electron
microscopy
(3D-EM)
data
still
poses
substantial
reconstruction
challenges,
in
particular
for
thin
axons.
Currently
available
automated
image
segmentation
methods
require
manual
proofreading
many
types
of
connectomic
analysis.
Here
we
introduce
RoboEM,
an
artificial
intelligence-based
self-steering
3D
'flight'
system
trained
to
navigate
along
neurites
using
only
3D-EM
as
input.
Applied
mouse
and
human
cortex,
RoboEM
substantially
improves
state-of-the-art
segmentations
can
replace
more
complex
analysis
problems,
yielding
computational
annotation
cost
cortical
connectomes
about
400-fold
lower
than
the
error
correction.
Flexible
behaviors
over
long
timescales
are
thought
to
engage
recurrent
neural
networks
in
deep
brain
regions,
which
experimentally
challenging
study.
In
insects,
circuit
dynamics
a
region
called
the
central
complex
(CX)
enable
directed
locomotion,
sleep,
and
context-
experience-dependent
spatial
navigation.
We
describe
first
complete
electron
microscopy-based
connectome
of
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: June 30, 2023
Abstract
Connections
between
neurons
can
be
mapped
by
acquiring
and
analyzing
electron
microscopic
(EM)
brain
images.
In
recent
years,
this
approach
has
been
applied
to
chunks
of
brains
reconstruct
local
connectivity
maps
that
are
highly
informative,
yet
inadequate
for
understanding
function
more
globally.
Here,
we
present
the
first
neuronal
wiring
diagram
a
whole
adult
brain,
containing
5×10
7
chemical
synapses
∼130,000
reconstructed
from
female
Drosophila
melanogaster
.
The
resource
also
incorporates
annotations
cell
classes
types,
nerves,
hemilineages,
predictions
neurotransmitter
identities.
Data
products
available
download,
programmatic
access,
interactive
browsing
made
interoperable
with
other
fly
data
resources.
We
show
how
derive
projectome,
map
projections
regions,
connectome.
demonstrate
tracing
synaptic
pathways
analysis
information
flow
inputs
(sensory
ascending
neurons)
outputs
(motor,
endocrine,
descending
neurons),
across
both
hemispheres,
central
optic
lobes.
Tracing
subset
photoreceptors
all
way
motor
illustrates
structure
uncover
putative
circuit
mechanisms
underlying
sensorimotor
behaviors.
technologies
open
ecosystem
FlyWire
Consortium
set
stage
future
large-scale
connectome
projects
in
species.
Cell,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
187(10), P. 2574 - 2594.e23
Published: May 1, 2024
High-resolution
electron
microscopy
of
nervous
systems
has
enabled
the
reconstruction
synaptic
connectomes.
However,
we
do
not
know
sign
for
each
connection
(i.e.,
whether
a
is
excitatory
or
inhibitory),
which
implied
by
released
transmitter.
We
demonstrate
that
artificial
neural
networks
can
predict
transmitter
types
presynapses
from
micrographs:
network
trained
to
six
transmitters
(acetylcholine,
glutamate,
GABA,
serotonin,
dopamine,
octopamine)
achieves
an
accuracy
87%
individual
synapses,
94%
neurons,
and
91%
known
cell
across
D.
melanogaster
whole
brain.
visualize
ultrastructural
features
used
prediction,
discovering
subtle
but
significant
differences
between
phenotypes.
also
analyze
distributions
brain
find
neurons
develop
together
largely
express
only
one
fast-acting
GABA).
hope
our
publicly
available
predictions
act
as
accelerant
neuroscientific
hypothesis
generation
fly.