The OpenScope program by the Allen Institute provides a global platform for neuroscience research, focusing on how the brain processes everything from everyday visuals to psychedelic experiences. This initiative fosters international collaboration, utilizing advanced observatory resources to delve into fundamental neural activities and perceptions. Neuropixels probes as part of the Allen Brain Observatory pipeline. Credit: Allen Institute
One study will investigate the alterations in brain activity at the cellular level caused by psilocybin, the psychoactive substance found in “magic mushrooms.”
How do neurons respond to the effects of magic mushrooms? What occurs in the brain during the perception of motion, or the recognition of grain patterns in wood? How does our brain monitor the gradual changes in the appearances of our friends over time?
The Allen Institute has launched four projects to investigate these questions through OpenScope, a shared neuroscience observatory. Just as astronomers use a few well-equipped observatories to study the universe, the OpenScope program lets neuroscientists worldwide propose and direct experiments on the Allen Brain Observatory pipeline. All research is made freely available to anyone tackling open questions in neural activity in health and disease.
Now in its 6th year, OpenScope aims to “pioneer a new model in neuroscience,” said Jérôme Lecoq, Ph.D., associate investigator at the Allen Institute.
“Our platform enhances data acquisition and global sharing, while empowering individual labs to leverage it for their unique scientific pursuits,” said Lecoq, who co-leads OpenScope with Christof Koch. “We’re striving to combine the best of both worlds: focused questions tackled by passionate teams, and a sophisticated platform driven by experienced experimentalists. This is our vision for the future of neuroscience.”
Psychedelic science
One of this year’s OpenScope projects will explore how
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