The human cells, engineered to respond to blue light, influenced rat behavior when stimulated.

A single amino acid substitution in a protein causes increased neuron production in the frontal lobes of humans compared to Neanderthals—a tiny difference that could have given our species a cognitive edge, researchers say.

The genes are involved in pacing the development of inhibitory and excitatory neurons. An imbalance in these two types of signaling is thought to play a role in autism.

Removal of the 14-day limit for culturing human embryos is one of the main changes in the revised recommendations from the International Society for Stem Cell Research.

Using CRISPR to swap an archaic variant of the NOVA1 gene into human stem cells, researchers create organoids with neurodevelopmental differences from those carrying modern DNA.

Manipulating the production of new neurons can improve cognition in animal models of the disease, raising the possibility that figuring out a way for humans to make more neurons could make a difference for people with dementia.

Researchers combine organoids, CRISPR-Cas9, and cellular barcoding technologies to identify genes that influence brain size.

Researchers turn to familiar model animals, along with some fresh strategies, to develop countermeasures against SARS-CoV-2 and investigate the biology of infection.

From bubbling plants to endangered whales, here are some amazing images from The Scientist in 2019.

A new study suggests that growing in a stressful environment prevents “brains-in-a-dish” from growing in the same way as their in vivo counterparts.

After growing in culture for a few months, the mini-brains produced rhythmic neural activity that strengthened over time.

Inserting human “mini-brains” into rodents has the potential to broaden scientists’ understanding of neurological disease, but raises quandaries about consciousness.

Mini-brains can be grown in culture or printed.

Brain organoids engineered to carry the genetic material could reveal how our brains are similar to and different from those of our closest relatives.

The organs showed neural activity for up to 36 hours, adding fuel to discussions about the ethics of future neuroscientific research.

After implantation, the tissue developed blood vessels and became integrated into neuronal networks in the animals’ brains.