{
  "abstract": "Brain organoids develop self-organizing neural networks that can be used to model neurodevelopment and disease. Here we introduce PULSE, a foundation model developed using over 900 hours of high-density microelectrode array recordings of in vitro and ex vivo neural tissue. We show that this single model can address two open questions: how disease-associated variants alter network development, and how naive circuits encode information. PULSE revealed accelerated network maturation in held-out human 16p11.2-deletion organoids. It also revealed a change in network coordination shared with SHANK3 deficiency. Because organoids develop without sensory input, they let us ask how circuits encode information before any representation is learned. Closed-loop control of a virtual inverted pendulum engaged existing spontaneous activity patterns rather than creating new ones. PULSE provides a common reference frame for neural circuits across genotypes, protocols and tasks.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of California Santa Cruz"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 16,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "H. E. Schweiger"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Robbins"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Hernandez"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Moreno-Ochando"
    },
    {
      "name": "I. Cline"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. Doganyigit"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Mouzaya"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. Hussain"
    },
    {
      "name": "Z. P. Pang"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Duan"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. R. Salama"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. A. Pollen"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Bhaduri"
    },
    {
      "name": "D. Haussler"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Teodorescu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "M. A. Mostajo-Radji"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/96tqbmjedzvq3.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.10.11.758231",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.11.758231v1.full",
  "id": "96tqbmjedzvq3",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.11.758231v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "neuroscience"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2805|Neural dynamics and brain function"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7221618313",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.11.758231v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-11",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/96tqbmjedzvq3.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:27:28Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.10.11.758231",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.11.758231v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
    }
  ],
  "title": "A foundation model for brain organoid network dynamics uncovers intrinsic computation and convergent disease phenotypes",
  "title_text": "A foundation model for brain organoid network dynamics uncovers intrinsic computation and convergent disease phenotypes",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:27:28Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/96tqbmjedzvq3",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}