The line between living organisms and machines has just become a whole lot blurrier. European researchers have developed "neuro-chips" in which living brain cells and silicon circuits are coupled together.
The achievement could one day enable the creation of sophisticated neural prostheses to treat neurological disorders or the development of organic computers that crunch numbers using living neurons.
To create the neuro-chip, researchers squeezed more than 16,000 electronic transistors and hundreds of capacitors onto a silicon chip just 1 millimeter square in size.
They used special proteins found in the brain to glue brain cells, called neurons, onto the chip. However, the proteins acted as more than just a simple adhesive.
"They also provided the link between ionic channels of the neurons and semiconductor material in a way that neural electrical signals could be passed to the silicon chip," said study team member Stefano Vassanelli from the University of Padua in Italy.
The proteins allowed the neuro-chip's electronic components and its living cells to communicate with each other. Electrical signals from neurons were recorded using the chip's transistors, while the chip's capacitors were used to stimulate the neurons.
It could still be decades before the technology is advanced enough to treat neurological disorders or create living computers, the researchers say, but in the nearer term, the chips could provide an advanced method of screening drugs for the pharmaceutical industry.
"Pharmaceutical companies could use the chip to test the effect of drugs on neurons, to quickly discover promising avenues of research," Vassanelli said.
The researchers are now working on ways to avoid damaging the neurons during stimulation. The team is also exploring the possibility of using a neuron's genetic instructions to control the neuro-chip.
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiol...uro_chips.html
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I wonder what Isaac Asimov would think of this.
Now stop being so freaking nice, and buy a stun gun. - Krell
The Borg:
Been there!
Done that!
That Commander Data knew he was a lucky bastard!
When I saw the Borg Queen being dropped in to that body suit . . I had a shiver.
So we knew what we needed to do, and now we have answered how.
Imagine, this could also lend to other prosthetics such as limbs. Having a technology which can recieve signals from, and transmit signals to nuerons is a huge step....
“The martyr sacrifices themselves entirely in vain. Or rather not in vain; for they make the selfish more selfish, the lazy more lazy, the narrow narrower.” - Florence Nightingale
Its all fun and games til someone gets sent from the future to Terminate us.
"I know kung fu...."
Imagine the possibilities.
CAPITAL punishment for infringement is a CAPITAList's dream.
i want a mechanical eye!! I will strike fear in the heart of Texans.. Even if they are already afraid of Bush coming back after hes out of office.
The Borg could never stand up to...... Cyborg Cop!!!
“The martyr sacrifices themselves entirely in vain. Or rather not in vain; for they make the selfish more selfish, the lazy more lazy, the narrow narrower.” - Florence Nightingale
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