Stanford scientists have proven that the human brain consists of two separate organs

Researchers from Stanford Medicine have found that the human brain is not a single structure, but rather a combination of two independent organs. Scientists have identified that the front and back parts of the brain have fundamentally different paths of embryonic development.

During the study, the team analyzed genetic markers and cell lines, confirming that neurons in the back of the brain are formed independently of the rest of the central nervous system. This discovery explains why attempts to cultivate neurons in the back of the brain in laboratory conditions have previously been met with high complexity and low efficiency.

The results of the study are critical for the study of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, understanding the separate nature of these organs allows for a new look at the mechanisms of development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Previously, these pathologies were considered as systemic disorders of a single organ, but now the focus of therapy can be shifted to specific cell groups in the back of the brain.

Data published in the Stanford report open up new opportunities for creating specialized models of neural networks that mimic the brain's biological structure. Scientists plan to use the obtained data to develop targeted treatment methods that will affect only the affected areas, without affecting healthy tissues in the front of the brain.