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REAL LIFE NEWS: CYBORG RATS

by Hazed

If you've ever wanted to gain control over a living creature, you will be delighted to hear that scientists at Tel Aviv University in Israel have successfully implanted an artificial cerebulleum into a rat's skull. The rat had brain damage and the operation restored its ability to move.

The cerebellum is the part of the brain that coordinates movements. It's quite straightforward, compared to other bits of the brain, so made an ideal candidate for this experiment. Having analysed the signals sent between the brainstem and the cerebellum in a rat's brain, they used that info to make a chip containing an artificial version.

Then they removed the cerebellum from a rat, and wired in the chip to replace it. As a test, they tried to teach the rodent to blink when it heard a certain tone. Without having its new electronic cerebellum chip turned on, nothing happened, but when it was hooked up, the cyborg rat was able to learn the new behaviour.

Brain implants could eventually be developed to replace tissue that's been damaged by a stroke, or other debilitating disease. It could also restore learning processes that decline with age.

And then, of course, it could enhance the function of a healthy brain. Or allow the brain to be controlled remotely, allowing an army of cyborg rats to do your bidding. Muahahahahaha!

Source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/05/roborat_gets_new_brain/

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