a method of treating stroke in a patient who has undergone a stroke comprising administering at least 2 million suitable neuronal cells in at least one brain area involved in the stroke . the method comprises the step of using a twist drill or a burr to form a hole in the skull through which the cells could be administered . exemplary cells are hnt neuronal cells , hcn - 1 cells , fetal pig cells , neural crest cells , neural stem cells , or a combination thereof . also disclosed herein is a pharmaceutical composition of 95 % pure hnt neuronal cells , which composition further includes a vial containing pbs and human neuronal cells . this vial is provided in a container with liquid nitrogen , whereby the composition is frozen and maintained at − 170 ° c . before use . also disclosed are methods of improving speech , cognitive , sensory , and motor function in a person who has experienced brain damage which interferes with function by administering a sterile composition of a sufficient number of neuronal cells or neural stem cells to the damaged area . also disclosed is a method of replacing central nervous cells lost to neurodegenerative disease , trauma , ischemia or poisoning .