The MICrONS (Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks) Consortium is a collaborative research initiative funded by the U.S. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA). This consortium brings together more than 150 researchers from 22 institutions, primarily led by teams from Princeton University, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Allen Institute for Brain Science.

The consortium’s primary focus has been on creating an unprecedented map of neural connections in the mouse brain, specifically in the visual cortex. Their groundbreaking work, published in April 2025 in a special issue of Nature, has produced the most detailed “connectome” (a comprehensive map of neural connections) to date.

Key achievements of the MICrONS Consortium include:

1. Mapping approximately 75,000 neurons functionally and over 200,000 cells structurally within a cubic millimeter of mouse visual cortex.
2. Identifying and tracing over 500 million synapses, providing an unprecedented level of detail in neural connectivity.
3. Combining functional data (how neurons respond to visual stimuli) with structural data (how neurons are physically connected) in the same brain volume.
4. Developing advanced imaging techniques, including dense calcium imaging and serial-section electron microscopy, to capture both the activity and structure of neurons.
5. Creating sophisticated computational tools and artificial intelligence algorithms to process and analyze the massive amount of data generated.

The consortium’s work is considered a major milestone in neuroscience, comparable to the Human Genome Project in its potential impact. Their findings have already led to new insights into how the brain processes visual information and how neurons connect and communicate across different areas of the visual cortex.

The data and tools developed by the MICrONS Consortium have been made publicly available through the MICrONS Explorer platform, allowing researchers worldwide to access and utilize this valuable resource for further studies in neuroscience, medicine, and artificial intelligence.

This project represents a significant step towards understanding the intricate workings of the brain, with potential applications in treating neurological disorders, developing more advanced artificial intelligence systems, and unraveling the mysteries of cognition and behavior.