Is a wiring diagram enough to understand the brain? In this episode, we dive into how researchers combined whole-brain optogenetic stimulation with calcium imaging in C. elegans to reveal functional neural connections that go beyond the traditional connectome.Key insights include:A new functional atlas built from ~23,000 neuron pair experimentsHow neuropeptides and extrasynaptic signals contribute to brain activityStrong functional links often exist without anatomical connectionsA data-driven rethinking of how neural signals propagate and integrateImplications for plasticity, brain evolution, and full-organism modellingThis episode sheds light on how small brains can perform complex processing — by rewiring our assumptions about wiring.📖 Based on the research article:“Neural signal propagation atlas of Caenorhabditis elegans”Francesco Randi, Anuj K. Sharma, Sophie Dvali & Andrew M. LeiferPublished in Nature (2023)🔗 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06683-4🎧 Subscribe to the WOrM Podcast for more full-organism insights into behaviour, neuroscience, and beyond.🔗 www.veerenchauhan.com

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