President Obama talked about the initiative during his February State of the Union address, likening the project to the potential the Human Genome research had in mapping DNA. He explained that every dollar that was put towards the human genome research returned $140 to the U.S economy. He added that scientists are currently mapping the brain attempting to unlock its mysteries and possibly find answers to conditions such as Alzheimer’s.
The research will be conducted as a collaborative effort between government agencies and private institutions. The research is also said to require new technology which can record the electrical activity of the neurons in the brain to be developed.
The New York Times initially made reports on the plan, but it has not officially been announced yet. The White House said that Obama would unveil the project called BRAIN later on today.
