Knowledge across networks: how to build a global neuroscience collaboration

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Computational Neuroscience
• Behavioral Neuroscience

Background:

• Traditional neuroscience often involves isolated labs studying different behaviors and brain regions.
• A need exists for standardized, high-density approaches in behavioral and neural assays.
• The International Brain Laboratory (IBL) was established to address these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the collaborative framework of the International Brain Laboratory (IBL).
• To outline the development of a standardized mouse decision-making behavior assay.
• To explore the coordination of neural activity measurements and theoretical approaches within a large-scale collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Establishment of a distributed network of approximately 20 laboratories and 50 researchers.
• Implementation of standardized behavioral and neural assays for mouse decision-making.
• Coordination of intellectual, administrative, and sociological aspects of the collaborative project.

Main Results:

• Successful development of a standardized mouse decision-making behavior.
• Coordinated high-density measurements of neural activity across the mouse brain.
• Identification of key lessons learned from managing a large, collaborative neuroscience project.

Conclusions:

• The IBL model demonstrates a successful template for large-scale, team-based neuroscience research.
• Standardized assays and collaborative networks can accelerate discovery in complex scientific fields.
• This approach has implications for future collaborative endeavors in science beyond neuroscience.