The MICrONS project and mapping the brain

By Lucas Willard

Published May 5, 2025 at 3:00 PM EDT

Rendering of a layer 5 Martinotti cell (grey) reconstructed from a large-scale electron microscopy dataset. The output synapses (bright spots) are color-coded by the target cell type. Red dots are synapses made onto excitatory layer 2/3 pyramidal cells and cyan dots are onto intra-telencephalic-projecting excitatory neurons in layer 5.

The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education and research.

Scientists say recent publications by the MICrONS project are a watershed moment for neuroscience. We’ll speak with Dr. David Markowitz, who coordinated the effort to the develop the most advanced 3D map of neuronal circuitry ever.

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