Network broadcast of "the most precious brain" was a slice

Memory only 20 seconds, the anatomy of the 40 million people live online Watch Webcast H.M. Brain Anatomy

University of California at San Diego Center for brain and cognitive brain observation Site H.M. brain slice live shots.

2008 December 2, one called "H.M." dies.

His brain is immediately frozen up a year later this month, his brain is cut into a thousand pieces, for subsequent scientific studies.

Referred to as the "H.M." patient because has only a short time memory and become the most famous in brain science, he failed the brain areas are critical, H.M. had unique professional is a patient, but after his death, but to enjoy the same treatment and Einstein — the anatomy of the brain.

This brain slice of the entire process on the network, the whole play, 3-day live, over 40 million people watched the live broadcast. Rating highest, 1.8 million people watching.

1 precious brain only memory 20 seconds

Almost all medical students have in textbook read H.M. 's case, but few know his real name Moab biegeleisen (HenryMolaison).

H.M. every time I see in the mirror, he will be surprised, because he looks all understand only stay in the youth. H.M. suffers from a rare form of amnesia, he can remember when memory, but the new memory can only stay for 20 seconds or so. He remember friends, remember just had dinner, no problem is new, he will always remember she had replied.

H.M. had photos

H.M. brain problems section is called "back" of the hippocampus.

When he was young, for the treatment of epilepsy by surgical removal of the majority of the hippocampus, and he suffers from amnesia. Later studies showed that the hippocampus is decided on memory and Cognition in humans of key parts. Since then, H.M. became a "professional patient." 2008-2 December biegeleisen, die from respiratory failure.

4 hours after death,

H.M. 's body that was sent to Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital. MIT's behavior brain scientists, research H.M. up to 46 years na Ko gold (SuzanneCorkin) and night driving the car on his brain was overall magnetic resonance scans.

Subsequently, H.M. brain is placed in formalin solution saved.

Next, his brain to make a long walk, going to University of California at San Diego Center for brain and cognitive brain observation is not willing to accept several laboratory H.M. brain slices, the brain's relationship with major human brain scientific progress. But we only have one chance, one can't go wrong. The responsibility is too big.

In February this year, the brain's observation in Sarai, Chang'an (JacopoAnnese) sits in from Boston to San Diego's jet aircraft, with a capacity of 18 litres of white plastic refrigerators, contained H.M. 's brain.

Some passengers surprised at his hands, some are also curious to ask.

"I don't think the boy boy boyish sheepish, just tell them that contained a very important scientific articles.

" Peace inside Luther said," I didn't tell them it's a brain, you do not want to scare passengers. ”

2 slices soaked in syrup before

H.M. is being checked in brain subjects most often of a patient, but even so, he also has numerous mystery, for example, H.M. can remember long ago memories, an experiment in 1963, he should remember that Kennedy was assassinated.

This shows that although he lost 75% of the hippocampus, but still have a certain amount of memory. It is also possible that other parts of the brain also produces memory function. In order to find more answers, researchers must do to H.M. brain more in-depth exploration.

San Diego Brain Research Institute of experimental into sections, a part to deal with the brain, another area where a high-definition microscope and digital processing of the computer.

Anne Celeste and Massachusetts General Hospital of neural scientists Fu Rouse (MatthewFrosch) is directly responsible for the removal of H.M. the brain work, in an interview, an inner circle said: "I was nervous all drenched in sweat. ”

Any fresh brains are very easy to be damaged, H.M. brain once destroyed, may seriously affect the subsequent scientific studies.

However, two of them successfully for the brain, place it in a solution of formalin to prevent and collided with the bottom of the container, they also placed a vacant unit.

H.M. brain magnetic resonance images

Two months later, in San Diego, an inner circle again on an MRI scan, record the more anatomical data.

This is the brain of the last full record. Next, the brain is placed in the high concentration of sucrose solution. Sugar into the brain, will replace the cells in the water. This reduces the slice of ice crystals during may damage the Organization's risk.

Last Wednesday, H.M. brain cancer has officially begun.

The entire process is transparent and brain observation site full live all the slices. During the three days of live eventually attracted over 40 million viewers watch liveThe highest ratings at all times while 1.8 million people watching.

3 final cut into 2401 tablets

Subsequently, H.M. 's brain is soaking in a-40 ° c-pentane solution until completely frozen.

Subsequently, the brain is packed in a container, surrounded by ethanol around in order to maintain a certain temperature: too cold, organizations may be in for smashing; in the process, the organization too hot it will become soft. Then, the container and the brain slowly through a microscope was adapted by slicing machine. Each slice of thickness and diameter of the hair.

After 53 hours of continuous work, H.M. brain turned to 2401 Zhang slices.

Of which two slices, 16 sheets exist some problems, other sectionsare intact. A staff always sitting in front of the slicing machine, each slice is finished, he will have to carefully slice will be curled up, paved the way for expanded by serial disk, Mount buffer solution in a container.

Most of the sections will be saved in low temperature, for subsequent research on standby.

Technicians from 30 to 50 slice sliced slices in singling out some, carefully ease, then placed in postcard size of glass, the process is fairly complex, takes about 1 hour to complete. They then will these slices dry, and in accordance with the different parts of the brain to be dyed.

Anne Celeste in view a brain slices.

The last is the truthful — with 20 x microscope logs all cell information.

Each slice of information needs to be mounted 200 DVDs. Joseph said, within Ontario researchers eventually adopt these information in the 3D system for recombinant H.M. 's brain. Scientists will be able not only to see the individual neurons, or you can see the entire operation of the brain. These data will be placed on the network, for all of us at any time free of charge. This study various brain diseases such as Alzheimer, brain research, such as memory and consciousness of generation and composition, and so on, with the potential value of incalculable.

Anne Celeste said: "just like the violin, we all are born with the same musical instrument, but how we can pull this musical instrument was decided the life of every individual.

From brain research, we can know we are going to pull it. It will be every man's Anatomy, physiological level fingerprints from the guide we know who you are. ”

【 Congressmen 】

Users evaluation section live

● This is amazing, I just got to me and my boyfriend's name to two slices sponsor some money, I hope that I and my boyfriend beautiful memory can never disappear.

• No need to say, the amputation of frontal wh

ite matter and the "brain slices" project does not have any similarities, this project is unprecedented.

• I hope that this project can give to any particular area of the brain does not believe that the damage can lead to brain damage proves that, different memory will be stored in different regions, and even amnesia can "remember" some but not others.

• This project is ambitious, is to find the visual cortex in the brain for processing function in a specific area, the next goal is to leave this area into cognition software.

● Staggering! hope that they will always make the data publicly!

• The world's most famous amnesia of the brain is being sliced, too amazing "edge" science show!

● Surface are cut out, progress is fast.

Who says the brain science not fun?!

● H.M. last remaining brain pathology that is being removed, never been so attractive.

• Come see scientists put human brain cut into Google maps!

Compilation/reporter Kim Yu

This version of the picture for information on picture.