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Will future computers run on human brain cells?
Breaking ground on new field of 'organoid intelligence'
A "biocomputer" powered by human brain cells could be developed within our lifetime, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers who expect such technology to exponentially expand the capabilities of modern computing and create novel fields of study.
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The team outlines their plan for "organoid intelligence" today in the journal Frontiers in Science .
"Computing and artificial intelligence have been driving the technology revolution but they are reaching a ceiling," said Thomas Hartung, a professor of environmental health sciences at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering who is spearheading the work. "Biocomputing is an enormous effort of compacting computational power and increasing its efficiency to push past our current technological limits."
For nearly two decades scientists have used tiny organoids, lab-grown tissue resembling fully grown organs, to experiment on kidneys, lungs, and other organs without resorting to human or animal testing. More recently Hartung and colleagues at Johns Hopkins have been working with brain organoids, orbs the size of a pen dot with neurons and other features that promise to sustain basic functions like learning and remembering.
"This opens up research on how the human brain works," Hartung said. "Because you can start manipulating the system, doing things you cannot ethically do with human brains."
Hartung began to grow and assemble brain cells into functional organoids in 2012 using cells from human skin samples reprogrammed into an embryonic stem cell-like state. Each organoid contains about 50,000 cells, about the size of a fruit fly's nervous system. He now envisions building a futuristic computer with such brain organoids.
Computers that run on this "biological hardware" could in the next decade begin to alleviate energy-consumption demands of supercomputing that are becoming increasingly unsustainable, Hartung said. Even though computers process calculations involving numbers and data faster than humans, brains are much smarter in making complex logical decisions, like telling a dog from a cat.
"The brain is still unmatched by modern computers," Hartung said. "Frontier, the latest supercomputer in Kentucky, is a $600 million, 6,800-square-feet installation. Only in June of last year, it exceeded for the first time the computational capacity of a single human brain -- but using a million times more energy."
It might take decades before organoid intelligence can power a system as smart as a mouse, Hartung said. But by scaling up production of brain organoids and training them with artificial intelligence, he foresees a future where biocomputers support superior computing speed, processing power, data efficiency, and storage capabilities.
"It will take decades before we achieve the goal of something comparable to any type of computer," Hartung said. "But if we don't start creating funding programs for this, it will be much more difficult."
Organoid intelligence could also revolutionize drug testing research for neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegeneration, said Lena Smirnova, a Johns Hopkins assistant professor of environmental health and engineering who co-leads the investigations.
"We want to compare brain organoids from typically developed donors versus brain organoids from donors with autism," Smirnova said. "The tools we are developing towards biological computing are the same tools that will allow us to understand changes in neuronal networks specific for autism, without having to use animals or to access patients, so we can understand the underlying mechanisms of why patients have these cognition issues and impairments."
To assess the ethical implications of working with organoid intelligence, a diverse consortium of scientists, bioethicists, and members of the public have been embedded within the team.
Johns Hopkins authors included: Brian S. Caffo, David H. Gracias, Qi Huang, Itzy E. Morales Pantoja, Bohao Tang, Donald J. Zack, Cynthia A. Berlinicke, J. Lomax Boyd, Timothy DHarris, Erik C. Johnson, Jeffrey Kahn, Barton L. Paulhamus, Jesse Plotkin, Alexander S. Szalay, Joshua T. Vogelstein, and Paul F. Worley.
Other authors included: Brett J. Kagan, of Cortical Labs; Alysson R. Muotri, of the University of California San Diego; and Jens C. Schwamborn of University of Luxembourg.
RELATED TOPICS Mind & Brain Brain-Computer Interfaces Intelligence Neuroscience Psychology Computers & Math Neural Interfaces Computer Science Information Technology Artificial Intelligence
RELATED TERMS Computing power everywhere Neurobiology Psycholinguistics Alan Turing Geometry Collaboration Artificial intelligence Grid computing
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Story Source:
Materials provided by Johns Hopkins University . Original written by Roberto Molar Candanosa. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference :
Lena Smirnova et al. Organoid intelligence (OI): the new frontier in biocomputing and intelligence-in-a-dish . Frontiers in Science , 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fsci.2023.1017235
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Follow: Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. Subscribe: RSS Feeds. advertisement. 2. Will future computers run on human brain cells? Breaking ground on new field of 'organoid intelligence' Facebook. Twitter. Pinterest. LinkedIN. Email. A "biocomputer" powered by human brain cells could be developed within our lifetime, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers who expect such technology to exponentially expand the capabilities of modern computing and create novel fields of study. advertisement. The team outlines their plan for "organoid intelligence" today in the journal Frontiers in Science . "Computing and artificial intelligence have been driving the technology revolution but they are reaching a ceiling," said Thomas Hartung, a professor of environmental health sciences at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Whiting School of Engineering who is spearheading the work. "Biocomputing is an enormous effort of compacting computational power and increasing its efficiency to push past our current technological limits." For nearly two decades scientists have used tiny organoids, lab-grown tissue resembling fully grown organs, to experiment on kidneys, lungs, and other organs without resorting to human or animal testing. More recently Hartung and colleagues at Johns Hopkins have been working with brain organoids, orbs the size of a pen dot with neurons and other features that promise to sustain basic functions like learning and remembering. "This opens up research on how the human brain works," Hartung said. "Because you can start manipulating the system, doing things you cannot ethically do with human brains." Hartung began to grow and assemble brain cells into functional organoids in 2012 using cells from human skin samples reprogrammed into an embryonic stem cell-like state. Each organoid contains about 50,000 cells, about the size of a fruit fly's nervous system. He now envisions building a futuristic computer with such brain organoids. Computers that run on this "biological hardware" could in the next decade begin to alleviate energy-consumption demands of supercomputing that are becoming increasingly unsustainable, Hartung said. Even though computers process calculations involving numbers and data faster than humans, brains are much smarter in making complex logical decisions, like telling a dog from a cat. "The brain is still unmatched by modern computers," Hartung said. "Frontier, the latest supercomputer in Kentucky, is a $600 million, 6,800-square-feet installation. Only in June of last year, it exceeded for the first time the computational capacity of a single human brain -- but using a million times more energy." It might take decades before organoid intelligence can power a system as smart as a mouse, Hartung said. But by scaling up production of brain organoids and training them with artificial intelligence, he foresees a future where biocomputers support superior computing speed, processing power, data efficiency, and storage capabilities. "It will take decades before we achieve the goal of something comparable to any type of computer," Hartung said. "But if we don't start creating funding programs for this, it will be much more difficult." Organoid intelligence could also revolutionize drug testing research for neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegeneration, said Lena Smirnova, a Johns Hopkins assistant professor of environmental health and engineering who co-leads the investigations. "We want to compare brain organoids from typically developed donors versus brain organoids from donors with autism," Smirnova said. "The tools we are developing towards biological computing are the same tools that will allow us to understand changes in neuronal networks specific for autism, without having to use animals or to access patients, so we can understand the underlying mechanisms of why patients have these cognition issues and impairments." To assess the ethical implications of working with organoid intelligence, a diverse consortium of scientists, bioethicists, and members of the public have been embedded within the team. Johns Hopkins authors included: Brian S. Caffo, David H. Gracias, Qi Huang, Itzy E. Morales Pantoja, Bohao Tang, Donald J. Zack, Cynthia A. Berlinicke, J. Lomax Boyd, Timothy DHarris, Erik C. Johnson, Jeffrey Kahn, Barton L. Paulhamus, Jesse Plotkin, Alexander S. Szalay, Joshua T. Vogelstein, and Paul F. Worley. Other authors included: Brett J. Kagan, of Cortical Labs; Alysson R. Muotri, of the University of California San Diego; and Jens C. Schwamborn of University of Luxembourg. RELATED TOPICS Mind & Brain Brain-Computer Interfaces Intelligence Neuroscience Psychology Computers & Math Neural Interfaces Computer Science Information Technology Artificial Intelligence. RELATED TERMS Computing power everywhere Neurobiology Psycholinguistics Alan Turing Geometry Collaboration Artificial intelligence Grid computing. advertisement. Story Source: Materials provided by Johns Hopkins University . Original written by Roberto Molar Candanosa. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Journal Reference : Lena Smirnova et al. Organoid intelligence (OI): the new frontier in biocomputing and intelligence-in-a-dish . Frontiers in Science , 2023 DOI: 10.3389/fsci.2023.1017235. Cite This Page : MLA. APA. Chicago. Print. Email. Share. 2. 3. 4. 5. Breaking. Air Pollution: Almost Nowhere On Earth Is Safe. For Most People, Money Is Linked to Happiness. World's First Horse Riders. Earth's Past 100 Million Years. Resurrected Supernova Provides Missing Link. Bald Eagles Aren't Fledging as Many Chicks. Ultracool Dwarf Binary Stars Break Records. Type 1 Diabetes: Endocrine Pancreas ... Deflecting Asteroids to Protect Planet Earth. Ice Age Survivors. HEALTH & MEDICINE. Support from Others in Stressful Times Can Ease Impact of Genetic Depression Risk, Study Suggests. This One-Atom Chemical Reaction Could Transform Drug Discovery. Warmer Climate May Drive Fungi to Be More Dangerous to Our Health. MIND & BRAIN. Holding Information in Mind May Mean Storing It Among Synapses. Gut Bacteria Affect Brain Health, Mouse Study Shows. It Isn't What You Know, It's What You Think You Know. LIVING & WELL. Why Chocolate Feels So Good -- It Is All Down to Lubrication. Coffee With Milk May Have an Anti-Inflammatory Effect. Hypertension Drug Could Be Repurposed to Delay Aging, Animal Study Suggests. advertisement. HEALTH & MEDICINE. Edible Electronics: How a Seaweed Second Skin Could Transform Health and Fitness Sensor Tech. Tiny New Climbing Robot Was Inspired by Geckos and Inchworms. Custom, 3D-Printed Heart Replicas Look and Pump Just Like the Real Thing. MIND & BRAIN. Will Future Computers Run on Human Brain Cells? Electrodes Grown in the Brain -- Paving the Way for Future Therapies for Neurological Disorders. Wireless, Soft E-Skin for Interactive Touch Communication in the Virtual World. LIVING & WELL. Want Healthy Valentine Chocolates? We Can Print Them. Human-Approved Medication Brings Back 'Lost' Memories in Mice. See No Evil: People Find Good in Villains. Modern Humans Generate More Brain Neurons Than Neanderthals. Sep. 8, 2022 — Temperature Variation Could Help New Touchscreen Technology Simulate Virtual Shapes. Mar. 3, 2022 — A Groundbreaking Genetic Screening Tool for Human Organoids. Oct. 29, 2020 — Science Fiction Enthusiasts Have a Positive Attitude to the Digitizing of the Brain. July 12, 2018 — advertisement. Toggle navigation. Menu. S D. S D Home Page Top Science News Latest News. Home Home Page Top Science News Latest News. Health View all the latest top news in the health sciences, or browse the topics below: Health & Medicine Allergy Alternative Medicine Cancer Cold and Flu Diabetes Diseases Heart Disease Infectious Diseases Obesity Stem Cells ... more topics Mind & Brain ADD and ADHD Addiction Alzheimer's Autism Depression Headaches Intelligence Psychology Relationships Schizophrenia ... more topics Living Well Parenting Child Development Stress Skin Care Men's Health Women's Health Nutrition Diet and Weight Loss Fitness Healthy Aging ... more topics. Tech View all the latest top news in the physical sciences & technology, or browse the topics below: Matter & Energy Aviation Chemistry Electronics Fossil Fuels Nanotechnology Physics Quantum Physics Solar Energy Technology Wind Energy ... more topics Space & Time Astronomy Black Holes Dark Matter Extrasolar Planets Mars Moon Solar System Space Telescopes Stars Sun ... more topics Computers & Math Artificial Intelligence Communications Computer Science Hacking Mathematics Quantum Computers Robotics Software Video Games Virtual Reality ... more topics. Enviro View all the latest top news in the environmental sciences, or browse the topics below: Plants & Animals Agriculture and Food Animals Biology Biotechnology Endangered Animals Extinction Genetically Modified Microbes and More New Species Zoology ... more topics Earth & Climate Climate Earthquakes Environment Geography Geology Global Warming Hurricanes Ozone Holes Pollution Weather ... more topics Fossils & Ruins Ancient Civilizations Anthropology Archaeology Dinosaurs Early Humans Early Mammals Evolution Lost Treasures Origin of Life Paleontology ... more topics. Society View all the latest top news in the social sciences & education, or browse the topics below: Science & Society Arts & Culture Consumerism Economics Political Science Privacy Issues Public Health Racial Disparity Religion Sports World Development ... more topics Business & Industry Biotechnology & Bioengineering Computers & Internet Energy & Resources Engineering Medical Technology Pharmaceuticals Transportation ... more topics Education & Learning Animal Learning & Intelligence Creativity Educational Psychology Educational Technology Infant & Preschool Learning Learning Disorders STEM Education ... more topics. Quirky Top News Human Quirks Odd Creatures Bizarre Things Weird World. Search. Get the latest science news in your RSS reader with ScienceDaily's hourly updated newsfeeds, covering hundreds of topics: List of All RSS Feeds. Keep up to date with the latest news from ScienceDaily via social networks: Facebook. Twitter. LinkedIn. 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