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brain organoids

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.

This shows a cross section of the rat brain

Featured Neuroscience

·October 12, 2022·4 min read

Transplanting Human Neurons in Rat Brains Sheds New Light on Brain Development

By transplanting living brain cells from an organoid into newborn rats, researchers create a new method of studying neurodevelopment and show neurons from one species can effectively form connections with another.

This shows different brain cells in the origanoid

Featured Neuroscience

·October 12, 2022·7 min read

Human Brain Cells in a Dish Learn to Play Pong

Brain cells grown in a petri dish can perform goal-directed tasks, such as learning to play a game of Pong.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 7, 2022·6 min read

Mapping Human Brain Development

Brain organoids are helping researchers map the molecular, genetic, and structural changes that occur during brain development.

This shows an organoid cerebral cortex slice

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·October 6, 2022·5 min read

Brain Organoids Provide a Window Into Autism

Investigating the effects of genetic abnormalities associated with autism and human brain development, researchers found brain organoids engineered to have lower levels of the ASD-associated SHANK3 gene had distinct features including neural firing hyperactivity, disruptions in pathways that cause cells to adhere to each other, and indications of ineffective neurotransmission.