Assembling the Brain - Understanding Neural Circuit Development Through Lab-Grown Models

Explore a fascinating 23-minute lecture from Stanford's Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute where Kenneth T. Norris, Jr. Professor Sergiu Pasca discusses groundbreaking research in brain development and psychiatric disorders. Discover how his team creates brain organoids and assembloids - tiny models of patient brain tissue - to study neurological circuit development in real-time. Learn about the challenges in treating mental illness, which affects nearly one-fifth of Americans, and how these innovative laboratory techniques may revolutionize our understanding of disorders like schizophrenia, autism, and depression. Gain insights into the remarkable process of transplanting these brain models into rats to study their integration with functioning brains, potentially opening new pathways for treating psychiatric disorders. Delve into the intersection of neuroscience and psychiatric medicine as cutting-edge research aims to unlock the mysteries of early-stage brain development and its connection to mental health conditions.