Allen Human Brain Atlas is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
The Allen Human Brain Atlas is a comprehensive mapping of gene expression across the human brain, providing critical reference data for understanding brain function and disease[1].
Launched in 2010, this atlas was the first comprehensive mapping of gene expression across the entire human brain[3]. It provides researchers with reference data for understanding normal brain function and identifying changes associated with neurological diseases[1].
Gene expression data from nearly 500 anatomical structures across the adult human brain.
Data from six clinically normal adult donors, allowing analysis of individual variation.
Combines:
Particularly valuable for understanding neurodegenerative diseases[4] like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS.
| Data Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Microarray | Genome-wide expression from 3,700+ tissue samples |
| RNA-seq | Transcriptomic data from selected regions |
| ISH | Spatial gene expression patterns |
The atlas provides multiple types of neural data including:
Researchers use the Allen Human Brain Atlas for:
The human and mouse brain atlases serve complementary roles:
Human brain tissue was processed using:
Multiple platforms were used:
Rigorous quality measures included:
The study of Allen Human Brain Atlas has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Hawrylycz, M.J. et al. (2012). "An anatomically comprehensive atlas of the adult human brain transcriptome." Nature, 489, 391-399.
Hawrylycz, M.J., Lein, E.S., Guillozet-Bongaarts, A.L., et al. (2015). "An anatomically comprehensive atlas of the adult human brain transcriptome." Nature, 489, 391-399. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14236
Shen, E.H., Overly, C.C., & Jones, A.R. (2012). "The Allen Human Brain Atlas: comprehensive gene expression mapping of the human brain." Trends in Neurosciences, 35(12), 711-714. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tins.2012.09.005
Sunkin, S.M., Ng, L., Lau, C., et al. (2013). "Allen Brain Atlas: an integrated spatio-temporal portal for exploring the central nervous system." Nucleic Acids Research, 41(D1), D996-D1008. https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gks1042
Lein, E.S., Hawrylycz, M.J., Ao, N., et al. (2007). "Genome-wide atlas of gene expression in the adult mouse brain." Nature, 445, 168-176. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05453
Zeng, H., & Jones, A.R. (2013). "The resource of the Allen Brain Atlas as a repository for neuroscience data and tools." In Modeling Neural Development (pp. 187-199). https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262018743.003.0013
Ding, S.-L., Royall, J.J., Sunkin, S.M., et al. (2016). "Comprehensive cellular-resolution atlas of the adult human brain." Journal of Comparative Neurology, 524(16), 3127-3481. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.24080
Forage, R.G. (2013). "The Allen Brain Atlas." Journal of Clinical Investigation, 123(12), 4999-5000. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI73460
Allen Institute for Brain Science (2007). "Allen Human Brain Atlas." Available from: https://human.brain-map.org/
The Allen Institute employs rigorous quality control measures:
These resources integrate with other major neuroscience platforms:
The Allen Institute resources are used by[7]:
The Institute provides:
Many Allen Institute projects are supported by NIH funding, particularly:
Major funding has come from:
The Allen Institute continues to expand its resources:
The Institute maintains active community outreach: