Lab-grown brain organoids expose systemic gaps in neuroscience research: How structural inequities and colonial science limit understanding of neural development

Indigenous neurobiological frameworks, such as the Māori *hau* or Amazonian plant-based cognition models, reframe brain development as a relational process embedded in ecology and spirituality. These traditions emphasize collective knowledge transmission and non-invasive healing, contrasting with the extractive and individualistic paradigms of Western neuroscience. The erasure of such knowledge in organoid research reflects a broader pattern of colonial science dismissing non-Western epistemologies as 'unscientific.'

The history of neuroscience is marred by extractive practices, from the unethical use of enslaved people’s brains in 19th-century phrenology to the exploitation of Henrietta Lacks’ cells without consent. Colonial-era brain collections in museums (e.g., the Smithsonian’s repatriated remains) highlight how Western science has historically treated non-Western bodies as specimens. Organoid research risks repeating these patterns if ethical frameworks for global tissue sourcing and benefit-sharing are not established.

Cross-culturally, the brain is not universally conceptualized as a discrete organ but as part of a larger system of knowledge and being. In Tibetan medicine, cognitive health is linked to *lung* (wind energy) and environmental balance, while in West African Yoruba traditions, the brain (*ori*) is connected to destiny and ancestral wisdom. These models challenge the Western focus on lab-grown organoids by emphasizing holistic, community-centered approaches to neural development.

Scientifically, organoids provide unprecedented insights into neural development and disease modeling, but their limitations are underdiscussed. Current models lack vascularization, immune systems, and environmental interactions, leading to oversimplified representations of brain complexity. The reproducibility crisis in neuroscience—driven by publication bias and lack of standardized protocols—further undermines the reliability of organoid-based findings.

Artistic and spiritual traditions offer metaphors for neural plasticity that transcend mechanistic models. For instance, the Japanese concept of *wabi-sabi* (impermanence and imperfection) mirrors the brain’s adaptive, ever-changing nature, while Sufi poetry describes consciousness as a 'mirror' reflecting divine unity. These perspectives invite a more nuanced understanding of brain development beyond empirical measurement.

Future neuroscience must integrate organoid research with ecological and social models to avoid reductionist pitfalls. Scenario planning should explore how climate change, urbanization, and digital technologies reshape neural development across cultures. Collaborative, open-source organoid research—centered on Global South priorities—could democratize neuroscience and address current inequities in knowledge production.

Marginalized communities, including Indigenous peoples, people of African descent, and Global South researchers, are systematically excluded from neuroscience leadership and benefit-sharing. The lack of diverse brain models in organoid research risks exacerbating health disparities, as findings may not apply to non-Western populations. Ethical frameworks must center Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and equitable partnerships to address these gaps.