The physical map of the brain used for decades does not actually match the genetic blueprint used to build it.

Anatomical brain atlases are traditionally based on visible structures like the folds and grooves of the cortex. A new pleiotropic map reveals that the genes governing brain development don't follow these traditional boundaries at all. Instead, the brain is organized into latent genetic regions that cut across functional and anatomical lines. This means that a disorder might affect a genetic region of the brain that looks like three different parts to a surgeon. Redrawing the brain map based on these genetic instructions will fundamentally change how we diagnose and treat mental health conditions.