The paper details the development of TransBrain, a computational framework designed to bridge the gap between human and animal neuroscientific research. By integrating spatial transcriptomics, structural connectivity, and functional imaging, the tool enables the mapping of molecular and circuit-level data across species. Researchers used this platform to translate mouse optogenetic experiments into predicted human brain activation patterns, linking animal circuit manipulations to human cognitive maps. Furthermore, the study demonstrates TransBrain's clinical utility by aligning structural brain alterations in autism mouse models with individual patient data. This approach successfully identified conserved gene-brain-behavior relationships, particularly concerning the Magel2 gene and intellectual performance. Ultimately, the framework serves as an objective bridge to enhance translational neuroscience and the evaluation of therapeutic targets.

References:

• Huang S, Zhang T, Dong C, et al. TransBrain: A computational framework for translating brain-wide phenotypes between humans and mice[J]. Nature Methods, 2025: 1-12.