Path of Thought

In this coronal section by Tala Karam, myelin is revealed in green, outlining the major highways of the central nervous system.
By sheathing axons, this insulating substance accelerates electrical conduction and synchronizes signals between brain regions, ensuring speed, precision... and mental fluidity.

The main myelinated structures can be distinguished here: the corpus callosum, which links the two hemispheres; the brain stem, the crossroads of sensorimotor integration; and the cerebellum bundles, the pillars of motor coordination.

But these networks are not static. They evolve, strengthen, repair or deteriorate. Aging, injury, chronic stress or certain psychiatric disorders can lead to myelin loss, slowing down signals and disrupting circuits.

By mapping its distribution, researchers are exploring the invisible infrastructure of the brain in action, where the balance between speed, plasticity... and vulnerability is silently played out.