The researchers developed an active micro-brain network

Japanese researchers now derive functional neural networks from brain-like organs. Although these organs don't really "think," researchers can use it to detect neural activity, providing a new way to understand the function of the human brain. The paper was published recently in Stem Cell Reports.
, a professor at Kyoto University and author of the paper, said: "Because it mimics brain development, brain-like organs can replace the human brain in studying complex development and neurological disorders. However, Takahashi noted that the current lack of ideal supporting structures for brain-like organs, such as blood vessels and surrounding tissues, makes it difficult for researchers to evaluate the neural activity of organ-like organs.
created a new functional analysis tool to assess the combined dynamic changes in neural network activity in the brain region being tested, reflecting the activity of more than 1,000 cells. "What's exciting about this study is that we were able to detect dynamic changes in calcium ion activity and visualize the combined activity of cells," said co-author Hideya Sakaguchi, a postdoctoral researcher at Kyoto University who currently workes at the Salk Institute in the United States.
to grow these organs, Takahashi et al. created a erypotent stem cell ball that has the potential to differentiate into various body tissues. They then put the cell balls in a petri dish filled with mediums that simulate the environment needed for brain development. Using this type of organ, the team successfully observed simultaneous and non-synchronous activities in networks and connections between neurons. Synchronized neural activity is the basis of various brain functions, including memory.
believes that this work provides the possibility for a broad assessment of the neural activity of human cell sources," said Sakaguchi, a professor at the Study Group. "This approach could help researchers understand the process by which the brain encodes information through the activity of specific cell groups, as well as the underlying mechanisms of mental illness.
, although brain-like organs provide a means of studying the human brain, ethical concerns have been raised about the neural function of such organs.
because brain organs mimic the development of the human brain, there are fears that they will also have conscious mental activity in the future, " he said. However, we believe that brain organs are less likely to develop consciousness due to a lack of input from their surroundings. Takahashi said:
(Source: Lu Yi, China Science Daily)
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