How to Build a Human Brain, in 7 Easy Steps

What if you wanted to get to know your brain by building one from the bottom up? All you need is this guide, a lot of patience, and some really tiny tweezers.

| 1 min read
Google NewsGoogle News Preferred Source

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news

Sign Up

More on Discover
Person scrolling on social media on their phone, close up of their hands
Social Media Habits Are Easy to Form — And Easier to Break Than You Might Think
Taipei 101 skyscraper, the building that Alex Honnold climbed
How Alex Honnold Can Stay Cool and Collected as He Climbs the Impossible
Person lying on the couch, bored
Boredom Has Its Benefits — But Can It Really Fix Your Attention Span?
Woman sitting at her desk with a computer, contemplating a decision
Anticipating Loss Feels 6 Times Stronger Than Anticipating Gain, Shaping Decision-Making
Illustration of the human brain neural network and conciousness
Where Does Conscious Experience Come From? We May Be Getting Closer to an Answer
woman stressed out looking at her phone
Scrolling Social Media, Online Shopping, and Gaming May Be More Stressful Than Checking Emails or the News
two macaque monkeys resting on a wall
Macaque Monkeys Could Unlock the Brain Secrets Behind Motivation — and Inspire New Mental Health Treatments
woman sitting at her desk, distracted by something outside. Procrastinating her work
Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Self-blame are Modern Symptoms of Primeval Survival Instincts
MRI scan of a brain
Aging Brains Show Surprising Mix of Decline and Adaptation
Illustration of neurons working in the brain
Why Some Brains Adapt Faster Than Others — And What That Means For Your Goals
woman sleeping in bed, dreaming
Are the Faces We See in Dreams Borrowed From Real Life? 
young girl holding gold and brown striped cat, with scared look on its face.
Do Animals Think and Feel Like Us? Most People Say Feeling Yes — Thinking No

Stay Curious

JoinOur List

Sign up for our weekly science updates

View our Privacy Policy

SubscribeTo The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Subscribe