---
title: "Outline of brain mapping"
chunk: 1/3
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_brain_mapping"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:29:51.311848+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to brain mapping:
Brain mapping – set of neuroscience techniques predicated on the mapping of (biological) quantities or properties onto spatial representations of the (human or non-human) brain resulting in maps. Brain mapping is further defined as the study of the anatomy and function of the brain and spinal cord through the use of imaging (including intra-operative, microscopic, endoscopic and multi-modality imaging), immunohistochemistry, molecular and optogenetics, stem cell and cellular biology, engineering (material, electrical and biomedical), neurophysiology and nanotechnology.

== Broad scope ==
History of neuroscience
History of neurology
Brain mapping
Human brain
Neuroscience
Nervous system.

=== The neuron doctrine ===
Neuron doctrine –  A set of carefully constructed elementary set of observations regarding neurons. For more granularity, more current, and more advanced topics, see the cellular level section
Asserts that neurons fall under the broader cell theory, which postulates:
All living organisms are composed of one or more cells.
The cell is the basic unit of structure, function, and organization in all organisms.
All cells come from preexisting, living cells.
The Neuron doctrine postulates several elementary aspects of neurons:
The brain is made up of individual cells (neurons) that contain specialized features such as dendrites, a cell body, and an axon.
Neurons are cells differentiable from other tissues in the body.
Neurons differ in size, shape, and structure according to their location or functional specialization.
Every neuron has a nucleus, which is the trophic center of the cell (The part which must have access to nutrition). If the cell is divided, only the portion containing the nucleus will survive.
Nerve fibers are the result of cell processes and the outgrowths of nerve cells. (Several axons are bound together to form one nerve fibril. See also: Neurofilament. Several nerve fibrils then form one large nerve fiber. Myelin, an electrical insulator, forms around selected axons.
Neurons are generated by cell division.
Neurons are connected by sites of contact and not via cytoplasmic continuity. (A cell membrane isolates the inside of the cell from its environment. Neurons do not communicate via direct cytoplasm to cytoplasm contact.)
Law of dynamic polarization. Although the axon can conduct in both directions, in tissue there is a preferred direction of transmission from cell to cell.
Elements added later to the initial Neuron doctrine
A barrier to transmission exists at the site of contact between two neurons that may permit transmission. (Synapse)
Unity of transmission. If a contact is made between two cells, then that contact can be either excitatory or inhibitory, but will always be of the same type.
Dale's law, each nerve terminal releases a single type of neurotransmitter.
Some of the basic postulates in the Neuron doctrine have been subsequently questioned, refuted, or updated. See the cellular level section topics for additional information.

=== Map, atlas, and database projects ===
Brain Activity Map Project – 2013 NIH $3 billion project to map every neuron in the human brain in ten years, based upon the Human Genome Project.
NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative [1]
Community outreach site for above where the public may comment [2]
Human Brain Project (EU) – 1 billion euro, 10-year project to simulate the human brain with supercomputers.
BigBrain A high-resolution 3D atlas of the human brain created as part of the HBP.
Human Connectome Project – 2009 NIH $30 million project to build a network map of the human brain, including structural (anatomical) and functional elements. Emphasis included research into dyslexia, autism, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia. See also Connectome a, comprehensive map of neural connections in the brain.
Allen Brain Atlas – 2003 $100 million project funded by Paul Allen (Microsoft)
BrainMaps – National Institute of Health (NIH) database including 60 terabytes of image scans of primate and non-primates, integrated with information covering structure and function.
NeuroNames – Defines the brain in terms of about 550 primary structures (about 850 unique structures) to which all other structures, names, and synonyms are related. About 15,000 neuroanatomical terms are cross indexed, including many synonyms in seven languages. Coverage includes the brain and spinal cord of the four species most frequently studied by neuroscientists: human, macaque (monkey), rat and mouse. The controlled, standardized vocabulary for each structure is located in an unambiguous, strict physical hierarchy, and these terms are selected based on ease of pronunciation, mnemonic value, and frequency of use in recent neuroscientific publications. Relation of each structure to its superstructures and substructures is included. The controlled vocabulary is suitable for uniquely indexing neuroanatomical information in digital databases.
Decade of the Brain 1990–1999 promotion by NIH and the Library of Congress "to enhance public awareness of the benefits to be derived from brain research". Communications targeted Members of Congress, staffs, and the general public to promote funding.
Talairach Atlas see Jean Talairach
Harvard Whole Brain Atlas see Human brain
MNI Template see Medical image computing
Blue Brain Project and Artificial brain
International Consortium for Brain Mapping see Brain Mapping
List of neuroscience databases
NIH Toolbox National Institute of Health (USA) toolbox for the assessment of neurological and behavioral function
Organization for Human Brain Mapping The Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) is an international society dedicated to using neuroimaging to discover the organization of the human brain.

== Imaging and recording systems ==
This section covers imaging and recording systems. The general section covers history, neuroimaging, and techniques for mapping specific neural connections. The specific systems section covers the various specific technologies, including experimental and widely deployed imaging and recording systems.