©(Forrest Collman/Allen Institute via AP)
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What kinds of things do you imagine scientists study about the brain?
- If you could explore any part of your body like a scientist, which part would you choose? Why?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- detailed /dih-TEYLD/
- neuron /NOOR-on/
- microscope /MAHY-kruh-skohp/
- signal /SIG-nl/
- pattern /PAT-ern/
[adjective] – having many details; precise and thorough
She wrote a detailed report about the wildlife in the rainforest.
[noun] – a cell that carries information between the brain and other parts of the body
The researchers studied how neurons respond when humans listen to music.
[noun] – a scientific instrument used for viewing very small objects
Scientists used powerful microscopes to examine the structure of plant cells.
[noun] – an electrical or chemical message transmitted within the body
Nerve signals control muscle movements when we play sports.
[noun] – an arrangement or sequence that repeats or can be identified
The scientists found unusual sleep patterns in patients with insomnia.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
In a major scientific breakthrough published in Nature on April 10, 2025, researchers revealed the most detailed map of brain activity ever created. This was made possible through a unique experiment at Baylor College of Medicine, where a specially engineered mouse watched different video clips—including scenes from The Matrix. The mouse’s neurons were designed to glow when active, allowing scientists to track brain activity in real time.
A tiny brain sample, about the size of a poppy seed, was taken for deeper study. Using advanced imaging, the team discovered more than 84,000 neurons and 500 million synapses, showing how complex the brain’s communication system is. Over 150 scientists from various institutions, including the Allen Institute and Princeton University, worked together on the project. The data has been made publicly available to support worldwide research. To build the brain map, scientists used powerful electron microscopes and artificial intelligence to create a 3D digital reconstruction. The result looks like a bundle of tangled spaghetti and shows how signals move through the brain. This could lead to new research on brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and autism. Princeton neuroscientist Sebastian Seung noted that the tools they developed could help detect abnormal brain patterns. Supported by the U.S. BRAIN Initiative and IARPA, this project marks a huge step forward in brain research.
A tiny brain sample, about the size of a poppy seed, was taken for deeper study. Using advanced imaging, the team discovered more than 84,000 neurons and 500 million synapses, showing how complex the brain’s communication system is. Over 150 scientists from various institutions, including the Allen Institute and Princeton University, worked together on the project. The data has been made publicly available to support worldwide research. To build the brain map, scientists used powerful electron microscopes and artificial intelligence to create a 3D digital reconstruction. The result looks like a bundle of tangled spaghetti and shows how signals move through the brain. This could lead to new research on brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and autism. Princeton neuroscientist Sebastian Seung noted that the tools they developed could help detect abnormal brain patterns. Supported by the U.S. BRAIN Initiative and IARPA, this project marks a huge step forward in brain research.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What did the mouse do during the experiment?
- How big was the brain sample used for deeper study?
- What did the scientists find in the brain sample?
- How many scientists worked on this project?
- How could this research help in the future?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever watched a science video or movie that made you think about the brain? If so, what did you learn from it? If not, what kind of science video would you like to watch?
- Have you ever learned about the brain in school? If so, what part of the brain did you find most interesting? If not, would you like to learn more about how the brain works? Why or why not?
- Do you agree that sharing science data with the world is a good idea?
- What does the brain map looking like tangled spaghetti tell you about how the brain works?
- What other things could scientists learn if they could see how the brain sends signals?