Researchers have for the first time built a 3D model of a human brain showing structural detail down to the cellular level. This ultra high-resolution atlas, dubbed “BigBrain,” aims to show the architecture of the brain at various levels — from the cortex’s layers and columns to its microcircuits and cells.
Researchers use a special tool called a microtome to cut sections from a brain preserved in paraffin wax. (Courtesy of Amunts, Zilles, Evans et al.)