A University of Florida scientist has grown a living “brain” that can fly a simulated plane, giving scientists a novel way to observe how brain cells function as a network.
The “brain” — a collection of 25,000 living neurons, or nerve cells, taken from a rat’s brain and cultured inside a glass dish — gives scientists a unique real-time window into the brain at the cellular level. By watching the brain cells interact, scientists hope to understand what causes neural disorders such as epilepsy and to determine noninvasive ways to intervene.
UF SCIENTIST: “BRAIN” IN A DISH ACTS AS AUTOPILOT, LIVING COMPUTER.
I think pretty much everyone on the Cabal and maybe the rest of the blogosphere (haven’t been “out” much today, heh) is linking to this today. Can’t remember where I saw it first.
October 26, 2004 at 12:21 am
Yeah, isn’t this amazing! I’ve been meaning to post it but so many others have beat me to the punch. So instead I’m collecting my own dish of neurons and wiring it up to my work computer. At the peak of this week’s lunar eclipse I’ll set it to spark and never have to work again!
October 26, 2004 at 9:38 am
Good idea! I think I’ll hook one up to my blogging software and one up to my work computer.