Kyle Loh - GoKawiil

Stanford 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.

med.stanford.edu · 2026-09-19

Study finds two distinct progenitor cells build the brain, not one

Researchers at Stanford, led by Kyle Loh, report evidence that the brain develops from two separate populations of precursor cells rather than a single universal one. One lineage forms the hindbrain, which governs vital functions like heartbeat and breathing, while a second gives rise to both the forebrain and midbrain. The findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, also describe a method for converting stem cells efficiently into hindbrain motor neurons.

nature.com · 2026-09-18