Scientists and physicians would like to use stem cell therapy to boost the brain’s ability to regenerate damage due to concussion or stroke. So far, these treatments have been stymied by changes in the brain due to injury, as well as difficulties with integrating regenerated cells into existing brain circuits to restore functions such as memory retention or motor skills.

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School published findings in Cell Stem Cell from testing a therapy derived from human stem cells.

When transplanted into mice, the cells matured, integrated into existing circuits and restored function. By tracing the cells and sequencing their gene expression patterns, the researchers also revealed how transplanted cells find where they need to go and form connections with the nervous system.