Johns Hopkins team releases detailed atlas of human brain development
Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers and global collaborators unveiled the most comprehensive cellular atlas of the developing human neocortex. The study integrates data from nearly 200 published works and over 30 million cells. Published in Nature Neuroscience on March 25, 2026, it maps the formation of the brain's outer layers from prenatal stages through adulthood.
Led by Carlo Colantuoni, associate professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland School of Medicine's Institute for Genome Sciences, the atlas compiles genetic-level transcriptomic data across mammal species. It charts the molecular construction of the neocortex, which handles thought, sensory processing, memory, and decision-making.
"Our goal is to understand neocortex construction at the cellular level and identify early signs of developmental delays and brain disorders," Colantuoni said. The mapping tracks cellular transitions and gene activity over time. It lays groundwork for studying conditions from autism spectrum disorders, affecting about 3% of U.S. children, to Alzheimer's disease in over 7 million American adults.
The team also released companion atlases for mice and macaques. Comparative analysis showed gene expression programs, once diffuse in mammals, concentrated in human neural stem cells through evolution. This shift drove human neocortex expansion and helps explain superior cognitive abilities compared to other species.
The resource offers open access through the NeMO Analytics web portal. It lets researchers, even without programming skills, explore gene expression profiles, map coordinated genetic modules during development, and upload their own data. The project builds on the BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network, a $500 million NIH-funded consortium started in 2022 to create reference brain maps for mammals.
The atlas holds promise for rare conditions like microcephaly, which impairs prenatal brain growth. It enables pinpointing neurodevelopmental delay origins at granular stages. Colantuoni noted pairing it with AI-guided screening in stem cell systems "promises precision-tailored treatments for individual patients with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases."
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