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DHARINI 3D Foetal Brain Atlas
- 11 Dec 2024
- 2 min read
Researchers at Indian Institute Of Technology (IIT) Madras have developed a revolutionary tool known as DHARINI, a detailed 3D map of foetal (unborn offspring that develops in the uterus of a mammal) brain, that holds significant implications for understanding brain disorders.
- DHARINI is the world's largest and most detailed high-resolution 3D foetal brain atlas, mapping over 5,000 brain sections and 500 brain regions.
- The atlas focuses on brains from the second trimester ( at 14, 17, 21, 22 and 24 weeks of pregnancy), a key period for rapid growth and development.
- The tool can help identify brain disorders such as autism and provide insights into conditions like cerebral palsy and mental health issues like depression and bipolar disorder.
- The research utilized thin slices of still-born brains, allowing for detailed cellular-level imaging.
- DHARINI is the only brain atlas to capture the growing brain in fetuses. The only other similar publicly available atlas, released by the US Allen Institute in 2016, mapped the brain of an adult woman.
- DHARINI is expected to support future advancements in Artificial Intelligence and machine learning, helping scientists better understand the human brain and improve artificial intelligence models.
Read more: Brainware
