‘Consciousnessoids’: clues and insights from human cerebral organoids for the study of consciousness

Abstract

Human cerebral organoids (HCOs) are an in vitro three-dimensional model of early neural development, aimed at modelling and understanding brain development and neurological disorders. In just a few years, there has been a rapid and considerable progress in the attempt to create a brain model capable of showcasing the structure and functions of the human brain. There are still strong limitations to address, including the absence of vascularization that makes it difficult to feed the central layers of organoids. Nevertheless, some important features of the nervous system have recently been observed: HCOs manifest electrical activity, are sensitive to light stimulation and are able to connect to a spinal cord by sending impulses that make a muscle contract. Recent data show that cortical organoid network development at 10 months resembles some preterm babies’ electroencephalography (EEG) patterns. In the light of the fast pace of research in this field, one might consider the hypothesis that HCOs might become a living laboratory for studying the emergence of consciousness and investigating its mechanisms and neural correlates. HCOs could be also a benchmark for different neuroscientific theories of consciousness. In this paper, I propose some potential lines of research and offer some clues and insights so as to use HCOs in trying to unveil some puzzles concerning our conscious states. Finally, I consider some relevant ethical issues regarding this specific experimentation on HCOs and conclude that some of them could require strict regulation in this field.

Functional bioengineered models of the central nervous system

“…Bioengineered tissues may also facilitate the design of neuromorphic computers and bioinspired artificial intelligence. Of note, CNS functions also include a capacity for sentience as well as the experiences of pain and suffering, which raises ethical and legal concerns related to embodied or minimally cognitive neural systems 123 , 220 . Therefore, ethical and legal frameworks should be developed for bioengineered CNS tissues; however, the full impact of higher functional competence in CNS models may not be fully appreciated until they are built and measured.…”

“…Indeed, CNS models may soon be sufficiently complex to express higher-order functions, including cognition in vitro 122 . For example, the term ‘consciousnessoid’ implies that neural correlates of consciousness may be detectable in vitro 123 .…”

Human mini brains and spinal cords in a dish: Modeling strategies, current challenges, and prospective advances

“… 106 Human brain organoids may potentially be utilized for the study of consciousness, as pioneering investigations have shown that network oscillation recordings done in dorsal forebrain organoids resemble electroencephalography patterns seen in preterm babies. 107 , 108 Ultimately, CNS organoids have demonstrated their potential as a highly flexible system to be used in a wide array of study designs and applications and will continue to prove their tremendous value for disease modeling and cell therapies.…”

Transdisciplinarity, neuro‐techno‐philosophy, and the future of philosophy

“…In addition to computer‐based attempts to replicate human cognition, scientists are working toward artificially recreating the brain using biological matter. In the laboratory, biomedical researchers have already created so‐called human cerebral organoids (HCOs)—miniature, brain‐like organs grown from stem cells that have been used as models for understanding cellular mechanisms and for studying pathologies (Lavazza 2021, 2). As scientists continue to create ever more complex HCOs, these organoids might eventually “become a living laboratory for studying the emergence of consciousness and investigating its mechanisms and neural correlates” (Lavazza 2021, 1).…”

“…In the laboratory, biomedical researchers have already created so‐called human cerebral organoids (HCOs)—miniature, brain‐like organs grown from stem cells that have been used as models for understanding cellular mechanisms and for studying pathologies (Lavazza 2021, 2). As scientists continue to create ever more complex HCOs, these organoids might eventually “become a living laboratory for studying the emergence of consciousness and investigating its mechanisms and neural correlates” (Lavazza 2021, 1). At least from the naturalized worldview that believes mental states are in some way dependent on physical matter, it seems possible that an exact—digital or biological—model of the human brain would experience conscious states akin to those of humans.…”