A new study has identified nearly 100 previously unknown parts of the brain.

Researchers in the US have created a precise map of the brain using multiple types of imaging data from 210 healthy young adults in the Human Connectome Project. 

They were able to divide each hemisphere of the brain into 180 specific cortical areas, 97 of which have never been described before.

The authors then used a machine-learning technique to validate their map in an independent group of 210 additional participants. They report that their approach accurately identifies these regions in new participants despite individual variability.

It is possible that with some future refinements — and the ability to apply it to any individual – the maps could have clinical applications in neurosurgery, and may also yield new insights into the cognitive evolution of humans through comparisons with nonhuman primates.

The full study is accessible here, while more information is available in the video below.