Researchers Create Mice With Human-like Brain Tissue Integration

WHO:

Futurism - Researchers from Stanford University, including senior author Sergiu Pașca, a professor of psychiatry.

The Times of India - Stanford scientists involved in the study.

WHAT:

Futurism - Scientists created mice with brains that have millions of functioning human neurons fused into them.

The Times of India - Human brain tissue was transplanted into mice missing most of their cortex, which grew to occupy more than 90% of the space within months.

Futurism - The implanted human neurons multiplied from a few hundred to several million and connected with the mouse brain.

Futurism - The human neurons in the mice resembled those found in a third trimester fetus.

Futurism - Researchers found that when baby mice with human neurons were deprived of oxygen, they exhibited signs of brain damage.

WHERE:

Futurism - Stanford University, California, where the research was conducted.

Futurism - University of California, San Diego, where bioethicist John Evans is based.

WHEN:

Futurism - The study was published in the journal Nature.

Futurism - The researchers cut off the experiments when the brain cells reached six months old.

WHY:

Futurism - The research aims to provide new avenues for understanding and treating neurocognitive disorders.

Futurism - The cortex is significant as it controls high-level thinking and language, which are aspects of human cognition.

HOW:

Futurism - Researchers used genetic engineering to create mice with parts of their brain missing, specifically the cortex, and implanted human brain cells into the space.

Futurism - Human skin cells were reprogrammed to form the neurons found in the cortex.

(UPDATED September 20, 2026 18:55 UTC)

Researchers from Stanford University have successfully created mice with brains that contain millions of functioning human neurons, a significant advancement in the study of neurocognitive disorders. The human brain tissue was transplanted into mice that were missing most of their cortex, leading to the growth of these neurons, which resembled those found in a third trimester fetus and connected with the mouse brain. This groundbreaking study, published in the journal Nature, aims to enhance our understanding of high-level thinking and language, crucial aspects of human cognition.