IIT Madras has a digital human brain atlas ready

The complexity of the human brain has always presented one of the greatest challenges in science.

- Vivek Wadhwa

Neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and epilepsy affect millions of people worldwide, yet we still know relatively little about their underlying causes. Existing treatments are often expensive, difficult to access, and only modestly effective. This leaves millions of patients and families facing daunting uncertainty, as well as health care systems strained by the burden of care.

At the same time, the rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming industries and creating new opportunities, yet AI still pales in comparison to the efficiency, adaptability, and learning capacity of the human brain. Despite its ability to process massive datasets and perform specific tasks at superhuman speeds, AI systems remain energy-intensive and lack the flexibility that comes naturally to human cognition. If we could better understand how the brain works—its adaptability, efficiency, and ability to process information—we could revolutionize not only the treatment of neurological diseases but also the future of AI.

This is where the work being done at IIT Madras comes in. By creating the world's most detailed digital human brain atlas, the researchers at IIT Madras are embarking on a journey that could fundamentally change how we approach both medicine and AI. This digital brain atlas will map the human brain at an unprecedented level of detail, providing insights into its structure, connectivity, and the underlying mechanisms that make human cognition so unique.