walker 0 Posted January 17, 2012 (edited) Hi all Interesting research being done on replacing brain function with electronics. A bit brutal, nano devices would be more finessed, but it is proof of concept. 17 January 2012 Last updated at 05:00Controversial cyborg rat tests may help fix brain damage By Katia Moskvitch Technology reporter, BBC News A rat lies motionless on a sterile, spotless table. It is alive, but heavily sedated. Closer inspection reveals that this is no ordinary rodent. Electrodes are being used to stimulate its brain, creating waveform readings on a nearby computer screen. The rat is part of a groundbreaking study at Israel's Tel Aviv University psychology department. Researchers are attempting to replace part of this and other rats' brains with digital equipment, effectively turning them into cyborgs... http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16305299 As always follow the link to full text of the original article This research has a whole bunch of significance both positive and negative. The ability to replace damaged brain function is of benefit for a range injuries and ilnesses from head shot and blast injuries, or other trauma induced brain injuries to Parkinsonism, and maybe Huntingdons, teurrets, or even senilitys but there are obvious negative uses too. If one can control say an impulse to tic or swear, one might consider the schizophrenias then, and this step has been taken in the past, one might consider protest an illness and control that too. When linked to the brain input encoding research I showed in an earlier thread, the possibilities for human enhancement is obvious. As I keep pointing out the singularity is near now. Read Ray Kurzweil. Kind regards walker Edited January 17, 2012 by walker Damn predictive text! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonci87 163 Posted January 17, 2012 Those scientists are crazy! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
djfluffwug 10 Posted January 17, 2012 Couldn't there be some more helpful and relevant studies being done than turning rats into cyborgs? :P Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TimRiceSE 10 Posted January 17, 2012 yeah, lets hook up some humans instead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Charles 22 Posted January 17, 2012 We are the Borg, surrender your vessel and prepare to be borded, resistance is futile. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tonci87 163 Posted January 17, 2012 Somehow it reminds me of this: X1OBzc9QfIs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACPL Jon 68 Posted January 17, 2012 Rats never asked for this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-GR-Operative 10 Posted January 17, 2012 Rats never asked for this. Yeah, just because they can't speak :p Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
roberthammer 582 Posted January 17, 2012 To Rats > What a shame :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Darkhorse 1-6 16 Posted January 18, 2012 rats never asked for this. Of course they did. They wanted to be bigger, stronger, faster, smarter, etc. in order to get revenge on all snakekind. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nodunit 397 Posted January 18, 2012 (edited) I wonder if this would be one of those devices that the body would reject most of the time. Or better yet how much said tech would cost to 'help' anyone. Edited January 18, 2012 by NodUnit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walker 0 Posted January 18, 2012 (edited) Hi all In reply to NodUnit. Prosthetic and mechanical implant rejection is well understood nowadays and rare to the point of nonexistence. It tends to be complex macro molecules such as the proteins in a replacement organ or reactive chemicals that get recognised by the immune system. Back to the core subject of the the thread. Last night the BBC had a program discussing the very same advances in technology and its ethical implications that we are discussing here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01b45zh/Horizon_20112012_Playing_God/ The other major subject was the proliferation of Bio-engineering right down to the backyard garage. Where you can order Open Source DNA over the internet ready to insert into a bacteria or other life form from an online catalogue just like Radioshack parts. Get your first glow in the dark jellyfish protein bio-hacking kit here: http://biohack.sourceforge.net/ And lots more too. How about a predator style squid DNA cloaking kit! Or Diesel home brew kit! Join the bio-hacker revolution and be bio age equivalent of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. Oh by the way that nano insertion of brain control mechanisms I discussed in the first post, already been done in mice and shown in the documentary. Brave new world the Singularity is Near now! Read Ray Kurzweil before it reads you. :D Kind regards walker Edited January 18, 2012 by walker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
