Brain organoids: a new paradigm for studying human neuropsychiatric disorders

Understanding human brain development and dysfunction is a major goal in neurobiology. Compared with traditional 2D models and animal models, brain organoids technology based on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) constructs can more accurately recapitulate the developmental process of the human brain and simulate the characteristic phenotypes of neurological diseases in recent years. This technology is expected to change our understanding of human brain development, while providing a fresh perspective on elucidating the pathogenesis of inherited and acquired brain diseases. This article reviews the development and recent advances in brain organoids, explores their use in neuropsychiatric disorders, from neurodevelopmental to neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases, while also outlining the challenges facing the technology. We conclude that these advances not only enhance our understanding of human-specific brain development and disease mechanisms, but also accelerate the translation of brain organoid technology into personalized medicine and drug discovery.