‘Consciousnessoids’: clues and insights from human cerebral organoids for the study of consciousness
Neuroscience of Consciousness October 28, 2021 Andrea Lavazza
Human cerebral organoids (HCOs) are three-dimensional lab-grown models of early brain development that already show electrical activity, sensitivity to light, and the ability to connect to spinal cord tissue to trigger muscle contraction. At 10 months, their network activity resembles preterm babies' EEG patterns. Given rapid progress, HCOs might become a living laboratory for studying consciousness and testing neuroscientific theories. The author proposes research lines to investigate conscious states using HCOs and discusses ethical issues that may require strict regulation.