Miniature 'human brain' grown in laboratory

Scientists have grown a miniature "human brain" the size of a pea, in a feat they hope will transform the study of neurological disorders.

The structures have reached the same level of development as that of a nine-week-old foetus, but are incapable of thought.

The team from the Austrian Academy of Sciences have already used the technique to study certain developmental defects, and say they hope to be able to use it to research disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.

Fergus Walsh reports.