Ramsay Brown

TL;DR: We built a Google Maps for the Brain.

Golgi (http://www.usegolgi.com) is a prototype interactive brain map of the rat brain that helps researchers intuitively interact with neuroanatomy, connectomics, and cellular and chemical architecture. The flood of “-omic” data urges new ways to help researchers connect discrete findings to the larger context of the nervous system. Here we explore Golgi’s underlying reasoning and techniques and how our design decisions balance the constraints… Show more

TL;DR: We built a Google Maps for the Brain.

Golgi (http://www.usegolgi.com) is a prototype interactive brain map of the rat brain that helps researchers intuitively interact with neuroanatomy, connectomics, and cellular and chemical architecture. The flood of “-omic” data urges new ways to help researchers connect discrete findings to the larger context of the nervous system. Here we explore Golgi’s underlying reasoning and techniques and how our design decisions balance the constraints of building both a scientifically useful and usable tool. We demonstrate how Golgi can enhance connectomic literature searches with a case study investigating a thalamocortical circuit involving the Nucleus Accumbens and we explore Golgi’s potential and future directions for growth in systems neuroscience and connectomics. Show less

TL;DR: We wrote XML for Brain Connectivity

"...the accelerating volume of novel data generated about neural connectivity outpaces the rate at which this data is curated into neuroinformatics databases to digitally synthesize systems-level insights from disjoint reports and observations. To help address these challenges, we propose the Neural Systems Language (NSyL). NSyL is a modeling language to be used by investigators to systematically encode and communicate reports of neural… Show more

TL;DR: We wrote XML for Brain Connectivity

"...the accelerating volume of novel data generated about neural connectivity outpaces the rate at which this data is curated into neuroinformatics databases to digitally synthesize systems-level insights from disjoint reports and observations. To help address these challenges, we propose the Neural Systems Language (NSyL). NSyL is a modeling language to be used by investigators to systematically encode and communicate reports of neural connectivity from neuroanatomy and brain imaging. NSyL engenders systematic description and communication of connectivity irrespective of the animal taxon described, experimental or observational technique implemented, or nomenclature referenced. As a language, NSyL is internally consistent, concise, and comprehensible to both humans and computers..." Show less