Neuroscience

Clumps of mouse brain cells can learn to play a virtual game

The organoids, tasked with balancing a pole on a moving cart, improved with feedback

An illustration of a brain in a jar with arms and legs riding a unicycle across a tightrope while holding a pole.

Getting brain organoids to perform virtual circus tricks — such as balancing a pole — gives researchers the chance to explore how learning happens.

Philipp Beck

By Andrea Lius

Clumps of mouse brain cells about the size of peppercorns can gain the knowhow to perform a virtual circus trick.