Rat super-brain brings cyborgs closer to reality: 'Brainet' lets rodents sync their thoughts to create a 'living computer' and solve problems collectively

  • In two separate studies, neuroscientists at Duke University networked the brains of monkeys and rats to make a living computer
  • Connected rats' brains together to allow them to forecast weather
  • Monkey's brains were connected to a computer that allowed them to work together, sharing thoughts, to move an arm on a computer screen
  • Creation of 'brainets' in animals raises the possibility that a super human brain could one day be created with incredible problem-solving skills

It's often said that two brains are better than one.

Now scientists have for the first time networked the brains of monkeys and rats to make a living computer that can solve problems to complete tasks.

The creation of 'brainets' in the animals raises the possibility that a super human brain could one day be created with incredible problem-solving skills.

Scientists have for the first time networked the brains of monkeys and rats ( a brainet of four interconnected brains is illustrated) to make a living computer that can solve problems. The arrows represent the flow of information through the Brainet from stimulation to the brain to a reward of water

Scientists have for the first time networked the brains of monkeys and rats ( a brainet of four interconnected brains is illustrated) to make a living computer that can solve problems. The arrows represent the flow of information through the Brainet from stimulation to the brain to a reward of water

In a dystopican sci-fi vision of the future, there's the possibility that the research could also lead to the creation of an evil 'collective being' such as Borg in Star Trek.

Neuroscientists at Duke University linked the brains of four rats together to solve a weather forecasting problem that the rodents couldn't complete on their own. 

In a separate study, scientists enabled three monkeys to collectively control an avatar arm to reach a target.

Read more @ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3156005/Rat-super-brain-brings-cyborgs-closer-reality-Brainet-lets-rodents-sync-thoughts-create-living-computer-solve-problems-collectively.html

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us."  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~