The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-Madras) has released a detailed three-dimensional atlas of the human brainstem at cell resolution, offering researchers an unprecedented view of one of the most complex regions of the brain.
Developed by the Sudha Gopalakrishnan Brain Centre (SGBC), the atlas, named ANCHOR (Atlas of Neurochemical Characterization of the Human Brainstem with 3D Reconstruction), combines MRI, histology, and neurochemical mapping to generate comprehensive brainstem maps spanning prenatal, childhood, and adult stages.
The atlas contains more than 200 brainstem nuclei and fibre tracts reconstructed from hundreds of serial sections. Eight complementary immunostains were overlaid across more than 500 sections to identify distinct neurochemical cell types.
The researchers have made ANCHOR publicly accessible through a dedicated portal to facilitate its use by scientists and clinicians worldwide.
The atlas was unveiled during the third BRICS Neuroscience Symposium 2026 held at IIT-Madras. Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Ajay Kumar Sood said the maps could help identify cell populations affected in brainstem lesions and aid clinical applications.
According to the institute, the atlas integrates macro-scale volumetric data with cellular-level images, enabling seamless navigation from gross brain structures to microscopic features.
SGBC plans to build cell-resolution maps covering the human lifespan and neurological diseases.
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