{"id":10256,"date":"2026-06-02T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/?p=10256"},"modified":"2026-05-28T16:47:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T23:47:27","slug":"new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n \n
\n\n \n Press Release<\/span>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Created from brain scans of more than 54,000 people worldwide, the new model will help researchers detect subtle changes in neural pathways linked to aging, Alzheimer\u2019s disease, and developmental conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n

\n Sidney Taiko Sheehan<\/span>\n \n June 02, 2026<\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n \n
\n\n \n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/path><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/path><\/path><\/g><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n\n \n \n \n
\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n

Statistical charts compiled from a large population allow brain abnormalities to be detected in new individuals. Photo\/Stevens INI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n \n \n \n\n<\/div>\n \n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n
\n \n
\n\n \n

Researchers at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (<\/span>Stevens INI<\/span><\/a>) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have created one of the largest reference models ever developed for the human brain, using diffusion MRI scans from more than 54,000 people to chart how the brain\u2019s communication pathways develop, mature, and decline across the lifespan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Published in Nature Communications, <\/span>the study<\/span><\/a> provides the equivalent of \u201cgrowth charts\u201d for the brain\u2019s white matter – the vast network of neural wiring that allows brain regions to communicate. The new tool offers researchers a new way to detect subtle patterns linked to aging, Alzheimer\u2019s disease, schizophrenia risk, and other neurological and psychiatric conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust as pediatric growth charts help clinicians determine whether a child\u2019s height or weight is developing as expected, these brain charts provide a reference for how the brain\u2019s neural pathways typically change over the lifespan,\u201d said Julio E. Villal\u00f3n-Reina, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at the Stevens INI and the study\u2019s first author. \u201cThat gives us a powerful new way to identify when an individual\u2019s brain wiring falls outside the expected range.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

White matter is essential for efficient communication throughout the brain. To study it, the team used diffusion MRI, an imaging method that tracks how water moves through brain tissue. Because water movement is shaped by microscopic features such as nerve fibers and myelin, the protective coating around them, diffusion MRI can reveal subtle changes in tissue organization not visible on standard brain scans. After compiling diffusion MRI data from 54,583 individuals across 19 international datasets, the researchers built statistical \u201cgrowth and decline charts\u201d for the brain\u2019s neural pathways, the network of nerve fibers that connects different regions of the brain and allows them to communicate.<\/span><\/p>\n

The researchers focused on four widely used measures of white matter microstructure across 21 major brain regions. By modeling how these measures vary by age and sex, they generated lifespan curves and percentile ranges that show what is typical at different stages of life. The results revealed that white matter follows distinct developmental and aging trajectories, with some measures reaching peak maturity in early adulthood and others later in midlife.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBrain development and brain aging are not uniform processes,\u201d Villal\u00f3n-Reina said. \u201cThe brain\u2019s neural pathways mature on distinct timelines, and some are more vulnerable to decline than others. Our model reveals this structure by merging data on a truly global scale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The team also discovered evidence for a longstanding theory of brain aging, sometimes described as \u201clast in, first out.\u201d According to this theory, brain pathways that develop last in childhood and adolescence tend to be more susceptible to decline in older age. The researchers observed that white matter regions that mature later did indeed decline faster in old age, offering new insight linking brain development and aging.<\/span><\/p>\n

To demonstrate the model\u2019s practical value, the researchers applied it to clinical datasets from people with mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a genetic condition that increases risk of schizophrenia. In each case, the model identified alterations in the brain\u2019s circuitry that deviated from age-expected norms. Importantly, these deviations were not identical across individuals with the same diagnosis, highlighting the value of a person-specific approach.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis monumental study took seven years to complete,\u201d said <\/span>Paul M. Thompson, PhD<\/span><\/a>, associate director of the Stevens INI and senior author of the study. \u201cThe vast scale of the data and the fine scale of the brain features assessed means we can now evaluate your neural pathways relative to other people of the same age, sex, and demographics. We can see how your brain differs from what we would expect for a person of your age and sex, giving us a tool to use in clinical trials of treatments for dozens of brain diseases.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

When applied to people with dementia and mild cognitive impairment, the model detected atypical white matter patterns in brain regions involved in memory and interregional communication. In people with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, it identified deviations in multiple key neural pathways, helping researchers discover which brain systems develop differently. The reference charts may also help researchers evaluate treatments by tracking whether a person\u2019s white matter measures move closer to the expected range, or whether a treatment slows the shift away from healthy patterns over time. The charts will now be used to compare more than 30 brain diseases and conditions, offering a common framework for studying how different disorders emerge, progress, and respond to intervention.<\/span><\/p>\n

The models are also a publicly available resource that can be extended as additional brain imaging data become available. The methods are now being used to study neurological, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental disorders by providing a common reference standard for white matter microstructure across the lifespan.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis study demonstrates the power of large-scale, international data sharing to create tools the entire research community can use,\u201d said <\/span>Arthur W. Toga, PhD<\/span><\/a>, director of the Stevens INI and Provost Professor at USC. \u201cBy establishing a lifespan framework for the brain\u2019s communication pathways, this work opens new opportunities to detect subtle disease-related changes, compare conditions more rigorously, and move toward a more individualized understanding of brain health.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

About the study<\/b><\/h2>\n

The study, \u201cLifespan normative modeling of brain microstructure,\u201d was published in Nature Communications. In addition to Villal\u00f3n-Reina and Thompson, the study\u2019s authors include Alyssa H. Zhu, Leila Nabulsi, Sophia I. Thomopoulos, Clara A. Moreau, Yixue Feng, Tamoghna Chattopadhyay, Sebastian Benavidez, Leila Kushan, John P. John, Himanshu Joshi, Iyad Ba Gari, Katherine E. Lawrence, Talia M. Nir, Neda Jahanshad, Carrie E. Bearden, Seyed Mostafa Kia, Andre F. Marquand and the Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, including the National Institute on Aging, the Fogarty International Center and the National Institute of Mental Health, as well as support from the Alzheimer\u2019s Association, the European Research Council and the Wellcome Trust, and the Popovich Chair in Neurodegenerative Diseases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":278,"featured_media":10257,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[476,169,20,87,427],"class_list":["post-10256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release","tag-brain-health","tag-latest","tag-research","tag-alzheimer-disease-research-center","tag-usc-mark-and-mary-stevens-neuroimaging-and-informatics-institute"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNew reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Newsroom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KECKschoolUSC\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-02T15:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/05\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2001\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1125\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"sheilaro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@KeckSchool_USC\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@KeckSchool_USC\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"sheilaro\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e82dc048d2c960e661893c9fca68c083\"},\"headline\":\"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-02T15:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":12,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/68\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Brain Health\",\"Latest\",\"Research\",\"USC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center\",\"USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Press Release\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/\",\"name\":\"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/68\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-06-02T15:00:00+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/68\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/68\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg\",\"width\":2001,\"height\":1125,\"caption\":\"Statistical charts compiled from a large population allow brain abnormalities to be detected in new individuals. Photo\\\/Stevens INI\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/\",\"name\":\"Newsroom\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Keck School of Medicine of USC\",\"alternateName\":\"Keck School of Medicine\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/68\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/keck-school-of-medicine-logo-696-square.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/68\\\/2023\\\/11\\\/keck-school-of-medicine-logo-696-square.jpg\",\"width\":696,\"height\":696,\"caption\":\"Keck School of Medicine of USC\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/KECKschoolUSC\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/KeckSchool_USC\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/school\\\/keckschoolusc\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/KeckSchoolUSC\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCpL1E1W5ZTfkc5iihwLSFEA\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.tiktok.com\\\/@keckschoolusc\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e82dc048d2c960e661893c9fca68c083\",\"name\":\"sheilaro\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6ee2a99be1484274d7e4e496f703f2e5bfcafe3adef93ca272b453f95bd9c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6ee2a99be1484274d7e4e496f703f2e5bfcafe3adef93ca272b453f95bd9c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/e6ee2a99be1484274d7e4e496f703f2e5bfcafe3adef93ca272b453f95bd9c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"sheilaro\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/keck.usc.edu\\\/news\\\/author\\\/sheilaro\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease","og_url":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/","og_site_name":"Newsroom","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KECKschoolUSC\/","article_published_time":"2026-06-02T15:00:00+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2001,"height":1125,"url":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/05\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"sheilaro","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@KeckSchool_USC","twitter_site":"@KeckSchool_USC","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/"},"author":{"name":"sheilaro","@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e82dc048d2c960e661893c9fca68c083"},"headline":"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease","datePublished":"2026-06-02T15:00:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/"},"wordCount":12,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/05\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg","keywords":["Brain Health","Latest","Research","USC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center","USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute"],"articleSection":["Press Release"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/","url":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/","name":"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/05\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg","datePublished":"2026-06-02T15:00:00+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/05\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/05\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image.jpg","width":2001,"height":1125,"caption":"Statistical charts compiled from a large population allow brain abnormalities to be detected in new individuals. Photo\/Stevens INI"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/new-reference-map-of-the-brain-may-transform-how-scientists-detect-disease\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"New reference map of the brain may transform how scientists detect disease"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/","name":"Newsroom","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/#organization","name":"Keck School of Medicine of USC","alternateName":"Keck School of Medicine","url":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2023\/11\/keck-school-of-medicine-logo-696-square.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2023\/11\/keck-school-of-medicine-logo-696-square.jpg","width":696,"height":696,"caption":"Keck School of Medicine of USC"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KECKschoolUSC\/","https:\/\/x.com\/KeckSchool_USC","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/keckschoolusc\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/KeckSchoolUSC\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCpL1E1W5ZTfkc5iihwLSFEA","https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@keckschoolusc"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/e82dc048d2c960e661893c9fca68c083","name":"sheilaro","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6ee2a99be1484274d7e4e496f703f2e5bfcafe3adef93ca272b453f95bd9c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6ee2a99be1484274d7e4e496f703f2e5bfcafe3adef93ca272b453f95bd9c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e6ee2a99be1484274d7e4e496f703f2e5bfcafe3adef93ca272b453f95bd9c0c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"sheilaro"},"url":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/author\/sheilaro\/"}]}},"author_meta":{"display_name":"sheilaro","author_link":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/author\/sheilaro\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/68\/2026\/05\/Julio-Villalon-press-release-image-300x169.jpg","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/category\/press-release\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Press Release<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Press Release<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/category\/press-release\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Brain Health<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/category\/press-release\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Latest<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/category\/press-release\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Research<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/category\/press-release\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">USC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/category\/press-release\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Brain Health<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Latest<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Research<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">USC Alzheimer's Disease Research Center<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 6 days ago","modified":"Updated 2 weeks ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on June 2, 2026","modified":"Updated on May 28, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on June 2, 2026 8:00 am","modified":"Updated on May 28, 2026 4:47 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"Statistical charts compiled from a large population allow brain abnormalities to be detected in new individuals. Photo\/Stevens INI","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/278"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10256"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10256\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/keck.usc.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}