New Marmoset Brain Atlas added to EBRAINS

We spoke to Dr. Piotr Majka, one of the researchers behind the atlas, to learn more about this exciting new addition to the EBRAINS Research Infrastructure.

The Marmoset Brain Atlas is the latest atlas to be integrated into EBRAINS. Why is it important to have this atlas available on the Research Infrastructure?

Having different atlases available on EBRAINS gives researchers more options for studying various phenomena. For example, rodents are exceptionally good for studying memory, but are not very good for studying vision. Marmosets essentially have a supercharged visual system. According to our research, approximately half of the neurons in the marmoset neocortex are related to the visual system. Marmosets are also very good for studying vocalisation and social behavior. As marmoset researchers often say: “A marmoset is not a larger rat, or a smaller macaque.”

Which modalities of the marmoset brain does the atlas present? And at which resolution?

The atlas represents an average of twenty marmoset brain hemispheres and is unique because we used classical histology to create it. This means we have access to underlying microscopic resolution images for every hemisphere that we used. Typically, this would have been done using MRI.

How can this atlas be used with other tools or resources available on EBRAINS?

The atlas comes with two additional datasets. The first is the largest corticocortical structural connectome of a non-human primate. The second is a map of calbindin-positive neurons in the marmoset cortex. Both of these datasets are now available in the EBRAINS Knowledge Graph. The atlas template and datasets constitute an integrated resource we call Marmoset@EBRAINS.

How does the marmoset compare to the macaque?

The marmoset is a relatively new species in mainstream research compared to the macaque. At the moment, there are more resources related to the macaque, but the marmoset is catching up. This is because the marmoset presents several advantages over the macaque; it is smaller, easier to breed, and less expensive. All while still maintaining the defining features of the non-human primate brain. This is why I think we are seeing more and more studies using marmosets.

As I mentioned, the marmoset is a relatively new species in mainstream research. One benefit is that we can learn from some of the mistakes of atlases that came before. For example, with the marmoset atlas, we have been able to avoid the problem of too much fragmentation. There is a shared language and a standardization of resources amongst members of the marmoset atlas community, which makes it easier to communicate and collaborate.

What was the biggest challenge in creating the atlas?

It might be an unorthodox answer, but in science, the most important thing is trust. You can only make a first impression once. That is why we spent many weeks making sure the atlas was of the best possible quality. It was hard work – involving a lot of manual reviewing and outlining – but I believe it was worth it.

How has the atlas been used by the research community?

The atlas has been used in numerous studies. In one study, it was used to reveal functional differences in default-mode network architecture between marmosets and humans. In another, it was used to better understand how morphological relationships within higher-order brain areas mature in adolescent marmosets. The atlas can be used by any researcher who is working with marmosets. Once you add data to the atlas, a synergic effect occurs, and the data starts to make more sense. From there you can query the atlas for information about brain structure, function, or connectivity.

Discover the Marmoset Brain Atlas

https://ebrains.eu/data-tools-services/brain-atlases/marmoset-brain-atlas