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brain organoids

·October 15, 2024·4 min read

Mini Brains Uncover Treatment Leads for Lewy Body Dementia

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a challenging-to-diagnose neurodegenerative disease with symptoms similar to both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, including hallucinations, cognitive issues, and movement disorders. To study LBD’s progression, researchers developed mini brain models from LBD patient stem cells, replicating key disease characteristics seen in human brains. These models helped identify four promising drugs that may inhibit alpha-synuclein buildup, a key protein associated with LBD.

Featured Neuroethics Neuroscience

·June 20, 2024·4 min read

Organoids and Embryo Models: Redefining Human Individuality?

Advances in organoids and embryonic models raise questions about human individuality. A new study argues these models can reinforce, not weaken, the concept of human individuality when viewed through personhood and sentience frameworks. Researchers emphasize that current technologies are far from achieving personhood in embryo models or organoids. The ethical focus should remain on the wellbeing of actual persons and sentient beings.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·May 14, 2024·6 min read

Mini-Brains from Stem Cells Provide Hope for Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Researchers developed tiny "mini-brains" from stem cells to help diagnose and treat Alzheimer’s disease. These mini-brains, created from human blood, accurately reflect the pathology of Alzheimer’s on a smaller scale. This innovative technology could revolutionize healthcare, especially for remote communities, by providing a simpler way to diagnose neurological conditions.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 10, 2024·4 min read

Bridging Brain Circuits with Lab-Grown Neural Networks

Researchers successfully connected lab-grown brain tissues, mimicking the complex networks found in the human brain. This novel method involves linking “neural organoids” with axonal bundles, enabling the study of interregional brain connections and their role in human cognitive functions.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 12, 2023·4 min read

Innovative Brain Cell Chips Unlock New Horizons in Speech Recognition

In a revolutionary study, researchers created a hybrid system called Brainoware, which integrates human brain cell networks, or organoids, with a computer chip. This innovative setup demonstrates capabilities in processing, learning, and memory, and has achieved basic speech recognition skills by decoding audio clips of Japanese vowels.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·October 24, 2023·7 min read

Novel Schizophrenia Insights from Brain Organoids and Genes

Researchers leveraged cutting-edge technology to gain insights into schizophrenia's neurodevelopmental origins. The researchers grew brain organoids from patients' skin cells, finding persistent axonal disruptions in those with schizophrenia. In another study, researchers zeroed in on a schizophrenia risk gene, CYFIP1, revealing its potential role in brain immune cells called microglia and their influence on synaptic pruning - a crucial process for brain health.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 13, 2023·5 min read

Lab-Grown Human Brain Organoids Go Animal-Free

Researchers have innovated a method to produce lab-grown mini brains, known as human brain organoids, free of animal cells, promising a more accurate study and treatment of neurodegenerative conditions. Previously, brain organoids were grown using a substance derived from mouse sarcomas called Matrigel, leading to inconsistencies due to its undefined composition and variability.

This is an AI representation of a brain organoid in a petri dish.

Featured Neuroethics Neuroscience

·May 9, 2023·5 min read

Tiny Human Brain Tissue Organoids Can’t Be Legally Considered “a Person”

Researchers proposed the need for a legal framework to guide the conversation on whether or not human brain organoids can be considered people. Brain organoids are grown from stem cells in a lab, mimicking the growth and structure of real brains.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 5, 2023·4 min read

Real AI Will Need Biology: Computers Powered by Human Brain Cells

The human brain continues to massively outperform AI technology in a range of tasks, a new study reports. Researchers outline their plans for biocomputers and organoid intelligence systems as future improvements for artificial intelligence technology.

This shows the organoid grafted onto a brain slice

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·February 3, 2023·4 min read

Human Brain Organoids Respond to Visual Stimuli When Transplanted Into Adult Rats

Brain organoids created from human stem cells that were transplanted into the brains of rats responded to visual stimuli.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·January 17, 2023·7 min read

3D Organoid Models Show Brain Mechanisms of Tourette Syndrome

Using induced pluripotent stem cells derived from skin cells of people with Tourette syndrome, researchers create 3D brain organoid models of the basal ganglia, an area of the brain previously implicated in TS. The model reveals potential pathologies behind the disorder and could help fashion new therapies to treat TS.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·December 29, 2022·5 min read

Human Brain Organoids Implanted Into Mouse Cortex Respond to Visual Stimuli for First Time

Researchers used innovative recording technology to show human brain organoids transplanted into mice establish functional connectivity in the cortex and respond to visual stimuli.