Stanford study finds brain is two separate organs

Stanford Medicine research shows the brain consists of two ancient nervous systems: a primitive one controlling breathing and heartbeat, and a 'human' one responsible for thinking. The finding explains why hindbrain neurons could not be grown in the lab for decades and allowed their first derivation from pluripotent stem cells.

• Hindbrain develops in parallel with forebrain and midbrain, not as a branch
• Scientists first derived functional hindbrain motor neurons from stem cells
• Same two-part scheme found in chickens, zebrafish and acorn worms
• Finding matters for ALS and spinal muscular atrophy research