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New Brain Atlas Reveals Key Developmental Switch Insights

11/7/2025

Summary

Story summary

Scientists created an atlas of the developing human brain as part of the $500 million BRAIN Initiative.
The project tracked hundreds of thousands of cells in human and mouse brains.
Researchers found a developmental switch near 20 weeks gestation, moving progenitor cells from producing excitatory to inhibitory neurons.
The atlas serves as a reference for studying autism and schizophrenia, guiding therapies.
The findings appeared in a series of Nature papers.

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Story summary

Scientists created an atlas of the developing human brain as part of the $500 million BRAIN Initiative.
The project tracked hundreds of thousands of cells in human and mouse brains.
Researchers found a developmental switch near 20 weeks gestation, moving progenitor cells from producing excitatory to inhibitory neurons.
The atlas serves as a reference for studying autism and schizophrenia, guiding therapies.
The findings appeared in a series of Nature papers.