A method of differentiating neural cells, the method comprising: (a) performing a first incubation comprising culturing pluripotent stem cells in a non-adherent culture vessel under conditions to produce a cellular spheroid, wherein beginning at day 0 the cells are exposed to (i) an inhibitor of TGF-β/activin-Nodal signaling, wherein the inhibitor of TGF-β/activin-Nodal signaling is SB431542; (ii) at least one activator of Sonic Hedgehog signaling, wherein the at least one activator of SHH signaling is SHH or purmorphamine; or wherein the at least one activator of SHH signaling comprises two activators of SHH signaling selected from SHH and purmorphamine; (iii) an inhibitor of bone morphogenetic protein signaling, wherein the inhibitor of BMP signaling is LDN193189; and (iv) an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSK3β) signaling, wherein the inhibitor of GSK3β signaling is CHIR99021, wherein day 0 corresponds to the initiation of the first incubation, and wherein the cells are exposed to the inhibitor of TGF-β/activin-Nodal, the at least one activator of SHH signaling, the inhibitor of BMP signaling and the inhibitor of GSK3 β signaling beginning at day 0 and through day 6, inclusive of each day; and (b) performing a second incubation comprising culturing cells of the spheroid in a substrate-coated culture vessel under conditions to neurally differentiate the cells. (a) performing a first incubation comprising culturing pluripotent stem cells in a non-adherent culture vessel under conditions to produce a cellular spheroid, wherein beginning at day 0 the cells are exposed to (i) an inhibitor of TGF-β/activin-Nodal signaling, wherein the inhibitor of TGF-β/activin-Nodal signaling is SB431542; (ii) at least one activator of Sonic Hedgehog signaling, wherein the at least one activator of SHH signaling is SHH or purmorphamine; or wherein the at least one activator of SHH signaling comprises two activators of SHH signaling selected from SHH and purmorphamine; (iii) an inhibitor of bone morphogenetic protein signaling, wherein the inhibitor of BMP signaling is LDN193189; and (iv) an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSK3β) signaling, wherein the inhibitor of GSK3β signaling is CHIR99021, wherein day 0 corresponds to the initiation of the first incubation, and wherein the cells are exposed to the inhibitor of TGF-β/activin-Nodal, the at least one activator of SHH signaling, the inhibitor of BMP signaling and the inhibitor of GSK3 β signaling beginning at day 0 and through day 6, inclusive of each day; and (i) an inhibitor of TGF-β/activin-Nodal signaling, wherein the inhibitor of TGF-β/activin-Nodal signaling is SB431542; (ii) at least one activator of Sonic Hedgehog signaling, wherein the at least one activator of SHH signaling is SHH or purmorphamine; or wherein the at least one activator of SHH signaling comprises two activators of SHH signaling selected from SHH and purmorphamine; (iii) an inhibitor of bone morphogenetic protein signaling, wherein the inhibitor of BMP signaling is LDN193189; and (iv) an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase 3 β (GSK3β) signaling, wherein the inhibitor of GSK3β signaling is CHIR99021, (b) performing a second incubation comprising culturing cells of the spheroid in a substrate-coated culture vessel under conditions to neurally differentiate the cells.