Indian-origin scientist develops 3D ‘mini-brain’ chip that could reshape AI and neuroscience

A research team led by Kumar Mritunjay has developed a three-dimensional brain-like platform that allows living neurons to interact with electronic systems in ways that closely resemble real brain activity, marking a major advance in neuroscience and bio-electronic computing.

The study, published in Nature Electronics, introduces a new type of “brain-on-a-chip” system in which living neurons grow inside a 3D electronic scaffold embedded with sensors capable of recording and stimulating neural activity.

Unlike earlier brain-chip models that relied on flat, two-dimensional structures, the new platform enables neurons to grow in all directions, more closely replicating the architecture of the human brain. Researchers say this allows neural networks to form and evolve in a more natural manner.

Kumar Mritunjay, who completed his BTech from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur before pursuing a dual PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Neuroscience at Princeton University, led the interdisciplinary effort combining neuroscience, electronics, and artificial intelligence research.

The platform’s embedded microelectrodes create a two-way communication system between living tissue and electronics. These sensors can monitor electrical activity generated by neurons while also delivering targeted stimulation to influence neural behaviour.

Researchers said the system functions as a controllable biological neural network, allowing scientists to observe how neurons form connections, respond to stimulation, and adapt over time. One of the key breakthroughs is the ability to maintain stable neural activity for several months, enabling long-term observation of learning and memory-related processes.

The programmable nature of the device also opens possibilities for training biological neural systems in ways similar to artificial intelligence models. Instead of relying solely on digital algorithms, the platform uses real living neurons to process and adapt to information.

Scientists believe the technology could have wide-ranging applications in studying neurological disorders, testing treatments, improving brain-machine interfaces, and developing next-generation computing systems inspired by biological intelligence.

The work represents a growing trend in hybrid bio-electronic technologies, where biology and computing increasingly overlap. Experts say such systems may eventually contribute to more energy-efficient computing architectures, since biological neurons process information using far less energy than conventional computer hardware.

The research also underscores the growing contribution of Indian scientists to frontier fields such as neuroengineering, AI, and advanced electronics.

Although still at an experimental stage, the 3D neural platform is being viewed as a significant step toward future systems that combine living intelligence with machine precision, bringing concepts once confined to science fiction closer to practical reality.