Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

07:40
Generation of iPSC-derived Human Brain Organoids to Model Early Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Published on: April 14, 2017
20.6K
Human brain organoids for understanding substance use disorders
Kangle Li1, Longjun Gu1, Hongwei Cai1
1Department of Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University Bloomington, IN, 47405, United States.
Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics
|August 15, 2024
Summary
Human brain organoids offer a novel way to study substance use disorders (SUDs). These models help understand how the developing brain responds to addictive drugs, paving the way for better treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Substance use disorders (SUDs) are complex mental health conditions with unclear neural mechanisms.
- Understanding SUDs is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review progress in using human brain organoids to study SUDs from a neurodevelopmental perspective.
- To highlight the potential of organoid models in understanding substance abuse.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent research utilizing human brain organoid models.
- Analysis of findings related to nicotine, alcohol, and other drug abuse in organoids.
- Exploration of organ chip and microphysiological system advancements.
Main Results:
- Human brain organoids can recapitulate the developing brain's response to various substances.
- Organoid models provide insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of substance abuse.
- Advancements in organoid technology are enhancing their utility for SUD research.
Conclusions:
- Human brain organoids are a promising tool for investigating SUDs.
- Further development of organoid models and systems is needed to address current challenges.
- Future research directions include refining organoid complexity and application in SUD studies.
Related Concept Videos
Vision
Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.
Lobes of the Cerebrum
The cerebral cortex, a critical structure of the brain, is intricately divided into two hemispheres, each consisting of four distinct lobes: occipital, temporal, frontal, and parietal. These lobes function cooperatively to regulate various cognitive and sensory functions, forming the basis of our complex neural capabilities.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
Frontal lobe
The frontal lobes, located behind the forehead, are the command center of our brain, controlling personality, intelligence, and voluntary muscle movements.
Visual System
Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...
Parallel Processing
The brain processes sensory information rapidly due to parallel processing, which involves sending data across multiple neural pathways at the same time. This method allows the brain to manage various sensory qualities, such as shapes, colors, movements, and locations, all concurrently. For instance, when observing a forest landscape, the brain simultaneously processes the movement of leaves, the shapes of trees, the depth between them, and the various shades of green. This enables a quick and...
Prosopagnosia
Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...

