GoKawiilStanford study finds human brain develops from two separate progenitor cells, not one
Researchers led by Kyle Loh at Stanford Medicine discovered that the forebrain and hindbrain arise from distinct progenitor cells rather than a single common origin, contradicting decades of neuroscience theory. The forebrain governs higher cognition like language and abstract thought, while the hindbrain controls vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, was co-led by graduate students Carolyn Dundes and Rayyan Jokhai.
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This reframes the brain as two ancient nervous systems fused together rather than one unified organ, which could reshape how scientists study brain development and disease. It also explains past struggles to grow certain neuron types in labs, potentially opening new research paths for hindbrain-related diseases like ALS and spinal muscular atrophy.
- Forebrain and hindbrain originate from separate progenitor cells, not a shared one.
- The finding could enable lab growth of previously hard-to-culture hindbrain neurons.
- New research avenues may emerge for diseases like ALS and SMA affecting the brain stem.
Source: med.stanford.edu — Content Dam Content-Fragments Sm News Media-Contacts Krista_Conger, 2026-09-19
Published there as: “Human brain is two separate organs, Stanford Medicine-led research finds”
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