Researchers grow active mini-brain-networks

(Cell Press) Cerebral organoids are artificially grown, 3D tissue cultures that resemble the human brain. Now, researchers from Japan report functional neural networks derived from these organoids in a study publishing June 27, 2019 in the journal Stem Cell Reports. Although the organoids aren't actually 'thinking,' the researchers' new tool -- which detects neural activity using organoids -- could provide a method for understanding human brain function.