Scientists from the University of California, detected activity similar to actual brain waves in lab-grown human brain tissue.
The artificial brain organoids were developed from stem cells of patients with Rett syndrome, which is a genetic condition that can result in seizures. The researchers reported patterns of electrical activity closely matching such seizures.
This work demonstrates that we can make organoids that resemble real human brain tissue and accurately replicate certain features of human brain function and disease.
Such organoids can be useful for researching brain development, diseases, and potential therapies, involving experiments that just wouldn’t be possible with a living human brain.
This development could eventually eliminate the use of animals in future studies. It also serves as a stepping stone toward a better understanding of human brain biology and brain disease.
How do you feel about growing human brains in laboratories and replicating human brain activity? Where does this development lead? Please let us know in the comments below.