An international consortium of neurobiologists called the Insect Brain Name Working Group recently released its magnum opus: a complete atlas of and consensus nomenclature for the structures of the arthropod brain (Neuron 81, 755–765; 2014). The group hopes that this resource will increase efficiency, encourage collaboration and enable comparison of studies among neuroscientists, leading to more meaningful interpretations of results.

Although insects such as fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are used extensively in neurological and behavioral studies, descriptions and definitions of arthropod brain regions have been vague and variable, hindering analyses of the connections within the brain as well as attempts to draw links between its structure and function. Establishment and use of consistent terminology for brain anatomy is essential to progress in this area. And because insect brains are often considered a simpler model of human brains, insights developed from studying them could lead to improved understanding of our own brains.

To minimize confusion and enable such advances, the Insect Brain Name Working Group developed a systematic nomenclature for the insect brain, using the fruit fly as its primary reference but accounting for other arthropod taxa as well. Kei Ito (University of Tokyo, Japan) led the effort.

In creating the naming system, the consortium identified more than 50 anatomically distinct centers in the brain, or neuropils, including some that were previously un-named. This reflects a level of complexity similar to that of other animals like rodents and fishes, despite the diminutive size of the insect brain, which is comparable to that of a pinhead.

In naming the neuropils and other structures, the group chose terminology that would resolve existing ambiguities and retained classic terminology when possible. Most names refer to the shape or position of the structures. The group deliberately avoided using names with functional associations in recognition of the fact that future studies are likely to uncover new functions for the brain regions.

Nicholas Strausfeld (University of Arizona, Tucson), a co-author of the report, described the model in a press release. “This effort provides a three-dimensional road map for describing structures for all insect brains, and enables comparisons with other arthropods. It has huge value in describing network relationships between computational centers in the brain... By recognizing discrete centers in the insect brain, we will better understand how elaborations of the brains of insects and vertebrates might relate to each other despite more than 600 million years of divergent evolution.”