On Tuesday, President Obama unveiled a new initiative to map the human brain. The plan is to invest $100 million starting in 2014, so scientists can create a "road map" of the brain's circuits, similar to the documentation done for the Human Genome Project. The initiative could develop tools to help treat diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and it's being co-led by a Stanford scientist. But critics say there are no clear end goals and no set deadline, and that the money could be better used elsewhere.
- More: Obama's Plan to Explore the Brain a 'Most Audacious Project' (NPR)
- More: The Journey to Map the Human Brain (NPR)
- More: What's Wrong with the Brain Activity Map Proposal by Partha Mitra - ScientificAmerican.com