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How do YOU Visualize the Brain?

Here at Scientific American, we develop lots of infographics about the brain. From classic neural pathway diagrams, depictions of medical breakthroughs, and maps of the brain’s genetic activity, there are as many solutions for visualizing the brain as there are questions about how it works.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


Here at Scientific American, we develop lots of infographics about the brain. From classic neural pathway diagrams, depictions of medical breakthroughs, and maps of the brain’s genetic activity, there are as many solutions for visualizing the brain as there are questions about how it works.

Now it’s your turn.

MIT’s EyeWire, FEI and Visually are sponsoring an infographic competition on the topic, and the organizations are seeking entries that visualize spatial scales in the brain. Submissions are due on April 30, 2014. For more details, including a prize list, check out the competition announcement page. (Full disclosure: I’m a volunteer judge.)


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To get your neurons firing, here’s some inspiration.

The Human Brain Project intends to create a computer simulation at scales ranging from the nano to the macro. (Illustration by Emily Cooper).

Jen Christiansen is author of the book Building Science Graphics: An Illustrated Guide to Communicating Science through Diagrams and Visualizations (CRC Press) and senior graphics editor at Scientific American, where she art directs and produces illustrated explanatory diagrams and data visualizations. In 1996 she began her publishing career in New York City at Scientific American. Subsequently she moved to Washington, D.C., to join the staff of National Geographic (first as an assistant art director–researcher hybrid and then as a designer), spent four years as a freelance science communicator and returned to Scientific American in 2007. Christiansen presents and writes on topics ranging from reconciling her love for art and science to her quest to learn more about the pulsar chart on the cover of Joy Division's album Unknown Pleasures. She holds a graduate certificate in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a B.A. in geology and studio art from Smith College. Follow Christiansen on X (formerly Twitter) @ChristiansenJen

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