After rat brain cells, human brain cells control robots
At Reading University, British scientists who have already used rat brain cells to control a simple-wheeled robot, are on the way to control the same with human brain cells now.
For the robot controlled by rat brain cells, 300,000 rodent neurons grown in a nutrient broth and producing spikes of electrical activity were connected to output of the robot’s distance sensors. The neurons proved capable of steering the robot around a small enclosure.
To further enhance the system, a culture of human neurons will be connected to the robot once the current work with rat cells is completed. This will be the first instance of human cells being used to control a robot.
Team leader Kevin Warwick said, “We’ll be trying to find out if the learning aspects and memory appear to be similar,”
Their main goal is to study if there are any behavorial differences in robots controlled by rat cells and human neurons.
The scientists can proceed as soon as they are ready, as they won’t need specific ethical approval to use a human neuron cell line. That’s because the cultures are available to buy and “the ethical side of sourcing is done by the company from whom they are purchased”, team member Ben Whalley said.
Category: Technology News
