In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama cited the up-and-coming project of mapping the human brain as an example of how the government should "invest in the best ideas." The President compared it to the mapping of the human genome project, which returned $140 for every one dollar invested. What do you think about the potential of mapping the brain?

Prof. Paul Miller (BIO)

As a computational neuroscientist, I would love to explore a human brain map-or connectome as it is dubbed-but I have to wonder if this is the best use of resources. Our brains have about 80 million neurons with a trillion connections so uncovering a human connectome is an immense undertaking. Yet, we know that for the simplest possible networks of two or three neurons, the connectivity is both insufficient to explain or predict function and different connectomes can produce the same function. Moreover, the brain is the centerpiece of a dynamic feedback loop between our sensations and actions, which alter our environment to produce new sensations. Each of our connectomes is not only uniquely established by our genetic makeup but also by our individual lifetime of experience. One snapshot of the connectome, without knowledge of the experiences which produced it, is insufficient to disentangle causes from consequences of any medical condition-the highly altered connectome of a blind person is beneficial, heightening acuity in other senses, and far removed from any cause of the blindness. Perhaps, moving beyond direct tangible benefits, could revealing a human connectome, like landing on the moon, inspire a new generation of scientists? My worry is that if the hype is greater than the payoff it could as easily deter some from an exciting and fruitful field of study.

Paul Miller is an Assistant Professor of Biology with an expertise in computational Nueroscience.

Denny Poliferno '13

Creating a working map of the brain would be a very useful endeavor. Billions of dollars are spent on care for patients with neurological diseases, and the number of people who will develop the "elderly" neurological diseases (Alzheimer's, etc) is projected to grow as the average lifespan increases. If scientists can determine what neurons or pathways are involved in these diseases, then effective drug or behavioral treatments could be produced and the cost of care would decrease. In addition, people who have lost limbs could get bionic limbs attached that are hooked up to and controlled by the brain, increasing their quality of life and their ability to be independent. The possibility of mapping the brain is a complex process that could take years or even decades to achieve, but then again, mapping the human genome used to be a similarly futile idea.

Denny Poliferno '13 is a Neuroscience major and a staff member of the Justice.

Bridgette Tran '14

If the government chooses to invest in this project, this research could potentially change the field of neuroscience and psychology by exploring the functions and structure of specific areas in the brain. This project could then prompt private investors to invest in research facilities that explore the biological causes of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and more. However, though mapping the brain could provide clues about human behavior and neurodegenerative diseases, there are many limitations to studying the brain. Even with a map of the specific areas of the brain, we must account for the fact that human behavior and disease is complex and is a result of the interaction between multiple areas of the brain. It's plausible that this project will only provide neuroscientists and psychologists with a stepping stone in which they must build upon.

Bridgette Tran '14 is a Undergraduate Departmental Representative for the Psychology department.

Justin Lesser '14

I am both skeptical and extremely excited about the prospect of a project to map the human brain. On one hand, creating a brain map would potentially be extremely important in understanding the causes behind many disorders, and the push to fund a product gives me great hope about the future of the field. However, the brain is much more complicated than that; almost the entire brain is involved somehow in everything we do. I have some doubts whether such a feat can actually be done. Regardless, it is refreshing to know that the future is bright for the field I am involved in.

Justin Lesser '14 is a Neuroscience major and a member of Brandeis Mens ultimate.