Lab-Grown mini-brain learns with epilepsy drug
Researchers have built a tiny brain using human neurons that can actually learn and adapt in real time.
By hooking these lab-grown neurons up to a simple computer game, the team at Cortical Labs watched as the mini-brain figured out how to play—showing it could change its behavior on the fly, just like our own brains do.
How the mini-brain helped researchers find new treatments
The scientists also tried out three anti-seizure drugs on the mini-brain.
Only carbamazepine (at a specific dose) helped the neurons process information better and win at the game, hinting that targeted meds could restore brain function in disease-like conditions.
Their CL1 platform lets researchers see how real human neurons react to drugs instantly—no animal testing needed—which could make finding new treatments for brain disorders way faster.