Preprint

FZJ-2026-04337

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png The Extremely Brilliant Brain: An Isotropic Microscale Human Brain Dataset

Chourrout, M. (Corresponding author) ; Keenlyside, A. ; Wanjau, E. ; Balbastre, Y. ; Yagis, E. ; Brunet, J. ; Stansby, D. ; Engel, K. ; Gui, X.FZJ* ; Thönnißen, J.FZJ* ; Dickscheid, T.FZJ* ; Lamalle, L. ; Bellier, A. ; Vivekananda, U. ; Tafforeau, P. ; Lee, P. D. ; Walsh, C. L. (Corresponding author)

2026

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.64898/2026.01.27.702076  doi:10.34734/FZJ-2026-04337

Abstract: We present an isotropic 7.72 μm/voxel post-mortem human brain dataset acquired using Hierarchical Phase-Contrast Tomography (HiP-CT) at the ESRF Extremely Brilliant Source, beamline BM18. This fills a critical gap between whole-brain MRI at 100 μm resolution and serial-section histological reconstructions at 20 μm or finer. HiP-CT contrast, derived from X-ray phase shifts, enables rich 3D visualisation of complex neuroanatomy including white-matter bundles, microvasculature, and sub-nuclei. We provide open-source workflows for online data exploration, subvolume download, segmentation, and reintegration of analyses into the full dataset. We demonstrate the potential of this resource by tracing vasculature over long distances, segmenting nuclei, and extracting white-matter orientations with 3D structure-tensor analysis. High-resolution human brain datasets are transformative for quantitative neuroanatomy, circuit mapping, and validation of clinical imaging; this openly available resource is a critical step for global access to next-generation multiscale brain imaging.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Strukturelle und funktionelle Organisation des Gehirns (INM-1)

Research Program(s):

1. 5251 - Multilevel Brain Organization and Variability (POF4-525) (POF4-525)
2. 5254 - Neuroscientific Data Analytics and AI (POF4-525) (POF4-525)
3. EBRAINS 2.0 - EBRAINS 2.0: A Research Infrastructure to Advance Neuroscience and Brain Health (101147319) (101147319)
4. DFG project G:(GEPRIS)501864659 - NFDI4BIOIMAGE - Nationale Forschungsdateninfrastruktur für Mikroskopie und Bildanalyse (501864659) (501864659)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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