Breakthrough in Neuroscience: Scientists Create Miniature Nervous System Model That Mimics Pain

Stanford University researchers have achieved a groundbreaking feat: crafting a miniature, lab-grown model of the human nervous system capable of simulating the transmission of pain. Measuring just two centimeters, this intricate model comprises four million cells organized into organoids—tiny structures resembling brain tissue. These organoids are linked in a circuit that mirrors the journey of pain signals from the skin to the brain’s somatosensory cortex.

Dubbed the “sensory assembloid,” the model was developed using human skin cells reprogrammed into stem cells, which were then transformed into critical components of the nervous system: the dorsal root ganglion, spinal cord, thalamus, and cortex. Over 100 days, these organoids fused into a functional network. When the initial node, representing skin nerves, is stimulated, signals ripple through the system, mimicking the body’s natural response. According to lead researcher Professor Sergiu Pasca, the model doesn’t “feel” pain but relays signals that the brain would interpret as discomfort.

This innovation enables scientists to study pain, touch, and movement at a cellular level without harming human subjects. It offers unprecedented insight into how signals travel through neural pathways, a process previously beyond reach. The technology holds promise for developing new treatments for chronic pain, sensory disorders, and other neurological conditions.