EyeWire

EyeWire is a browser-based citizen-science game developed by the Seung Lab (initially at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, later at Princeton University) under the direction of Sebastian Seung. Its aim is to map the structure of neurons—starting with retinal neurons—by engaging players to trace and reconstruct neuronal branches in three dimensions.
By turning a challenging neuroscientific task into an interactive game, EyeWire harnesses the pattern-recognition capabilities of humans to assist in creating data that machine-learning models alone cannot yet reliably produce. 

Who it serves & how

• Researchers in neuroscience and connectomics: They benefit from large-scale crowd-driven reconstructions of neuronal morphology, which help accelerate mapping of neural circuits. 
• Citizen scientists & game-players: Anyone with internet access can register, learn to trace neuron segments, earn points and contribute to real scientific research—no prior neuroscience training is required. 
• Educators and outreach initiatives: EyeWire offers a bridge between academic neuroscience and public engagement, making complex brain-mapping tasks accessible and fun to a broad audience.

Key features & value

• Gamified neuron-tracing workflow: Players are presented with volumetric image “cubes” of neuron segments and use interactive tools to trace branches, their work is aggregated and validated. 
• Human-AI collaboration: The platform combines player tracing with machine-learning predictions, human corrections feed back to improve AI models for future mapping. 
• Scientific impact: The project has already contributed to the discovery of new neuron types and previously uncharted circuits in the retina. 
• Community and leaderboard: The game features leaderboards, badges, levels (e.g., Scout, Scythe) and community events which help sustain volunteer engagement. 

Considerations

• Although accessible to non-experts, players still require patience and time to learn precision tracing, accuracy matters for scientific validity.
• The game is best suited for those willing to spend sessions tracing rather than casual short use, longevity of motivation is a challenge for citizen-science platforms.
• EyeWire’s focus on neuronal structure means its niche application may not serve all neuroscience tasks (e.g., functional imaging, electrophysiology) directly.