Part 4/7:
The proximity of these neural tissues to their natural counterparts means that treatments can be tested in conditions that reflect the actual physical and biochemical environment of the brain. This could accelerate the development of therapies for conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurological disorders, reducing the need for animal subjects and improving the predictive power of preclinical tests.
Towards Complex and Functional Neural Structures
The current work is just the beginning. Researchers aim to develop even more complex and functional neural networks, potentially capable of learning and adapting in ways akin to natural brains. The goal is to build structures that not only resemble brain tissue visually but also replicate its functional properties.