A research team in Australia has just proved something truly remarkable—for the first time ever, it has been found that human brain cells can perform goal-oriented tasks. More specifically, the Melbourne-based team showed that 800,000 brain cells living in the DishBrain, a platform that can teach neurons to perform tasks through the use of electrophysiological signals, were able to perform the task of Pong, a game computer.
Moreover, the team’s research proved as a marker for research, proving that brain cells in a dish can show inherent intelligence, by modifying their behavior over time. The possibilities from this research are endless, ranging from drug discoveries to potential alternatives for animal testing. Every year, over 110 million animals, ranging from frogs to monkeys are killed in US Laboratories for animal testing. If successful, these new possibilities could be revolutionary.
The Cortical Labs, which is led by Brett Kagab, cultured cortical neurons that were derived from human stem cells reprogrammed into neurons. This culturing process was performed on high-density microelectrode array chips, which simultaneously recorded the electrical activity of the cells.
They later connected their DishBrain to the chip in order to run a computer game, complete with a virtual paddle and ball. The chips served as a way to provide the cells feedback on how well they performed and carried out their feedback method by providing the cells with predictable electrical stimulants when the paddle and the ball made contact. Subsequently, they gave the cells an unpredictable stimulus when the paddle and ball did not make contact.
Within just 5 minutes of playing the “Pong” game, the cells had begun to improve their performance, as the spikes of electrical activity began to increase. The feedback and performance levels were conversely related, meaning that the more feedback they received, the more their performance improved.
The study is a stepping stone for showing the world how much more can be done in the field of neurology and how brain cells function in our brains.
Sources:
Costandi, M. (2022, October 18). Brain cells on a chip learn to play pong within 5 minutes. Big Think. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/brain-cells-chip-play-pong/#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20published%20in,Cortical%20Labs%2C%20a%20biological%20computing
Ktori, S. (2022, October 14). Human brain cells in a dish learn to play "pong". GEN. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.genengnews.com/neuroscience/human-brain-cells-in-a-dish-learn-to-play-pong/
Stunning neuroscience images. Queensland Brain Institute - University of Queensland. (2017, November 8). Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://qbi.uq.edu.au/blog/2017/07/stunning-neuroscience-images
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