ANU researchers have grown a revolutionary "brain-on-a-chip" that could ultimately help patients recover from degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.

Brain cells were grown on a specially-designed semiconductor wafer, which was patterned with tiny wires to provide a scaffold for cell growth.

The research used tiny wires to provide a scaffold for brain cells grown on a semiconductor chip. Credit:Stuart Hay/Australian National University

Observing the way the cells grew and connected with each other could eventually help researchers repair damaged parts of the brain, lead researcher Dr Vini Gautam said.

"The project will provide new insights into the development of neuro-prosthetics, which can help the brain recover after damage due to an accident, stroke or degenerative neurological diseases," she said.