For several years, researchers at the Allen Institute for Brain Science, a Seattle nonprofit dedicated to neuroscience, have been mapping out a rat’s brain with extreme detail. Their finished map now includes around 100 million cells. They then 3D printed the model of the rat’s brain. These rodents are commonly used as organisms to be tested on as their brains are similar to humans, and they are able to be trained easily. There are several ways that this 3D model can help enhance our knowledge of the human brain and do better things.
According to the San Francisco Union-Tribune, “Rodents can be a good model for humans because a lot of the structure and connectivity that exists in human brains also exists in rodents, especially rats. ” Many of the experiments that are tested on rats and a model of a rat’s brain can help scientists learn more about the human brain which is clearly beneficial. For example, knowing a good model of a brain can help psychologists learn how to help people with disabilities or just give people a better understanding of why they’re body functions the way it does. In addition, rats share many of the same characteristics as humans. For example, they are strangely social. Because humans are also social, scientists may be able to connect these two and the reason rats are social may be the same reason for humans. Lastly, mice can be trained easily. This can help during experiments as the results will be more constant. If this research about the rat brain is continued, it can benefit many.