Earlier blog posts looked at the Whole Brain Catalog application, which provides a portal to a broad range of neuroscience data (see Other related blog posts below). Two days ago the Whole Brain Catalog team from the University of California San Diego released a version of the Whole Brain Catalog application for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

Figure 1. A close up view of a triple labeled cerebellum section on an iPhone using the Whole Brain Catalog app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

Note: If you run into any issues running the Whole Brain Catalog app, check to make sure your device is connected with the Internet.

The introductory video is attractive and may be informative for those less familiar with neuroscience. On the iPhone and iPod touch the application opens to thirteen images that act as icons arrayed across the horizontal view. Each of these represents some aspect of the nervous system that you may examine in more detail by double tapping the icon.

Note: The application is strictly horizontal on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

The icons represent the following:

• Rat cerebellar cortex (triple labeled)
• Another section from rat cerebellar cortex (triple labeled)
• 3View mouse neuropil
• Fruitfly DL1 cell
• Mouse reference atlas (sagittal)
• Mouse reference atlas (coronal)
• Mouse RORB ISH marker
• Developing mouse
• Cat brainstage (sagital)
• Embryonic 17a rat
• Primate nissle stained brain section
• Human brain section
• Mouse brain section

Each section may be viewed in beautiful detail except, for some reason, the human brain section. Some are stunning (see for example Figure 1). However, currently the Whole Brain Catalog app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch is a sampler to entice the appetite. It’s not yet a tool for reference or serious research.

Note: The Whole Brain Catalog app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch is free and may be downloaded from the iTunes app store by clicking here.


Other related blog posts:

Whole Brain Catalog: the Google Earth for the Brain

Whole Brain Catalog: Brain Cells and Molecules

Whole Brain Catalog: Visualizing Neural Network Activity