Scientists report creating a “biological computer” that uses living brain cells grown in a laboratory dish and maintained in a life-support system. The researchers connect the cultured cells to an external setup so the cells can respond to stimuli and be trained to interact with game-like tasks. According to the report, the system learns to play well-known arcade titles, including the 1990s game “Doom” and the classic game “Pong.” The study frames these experiments as a potential step toward understanding how neural networks learn and behave under different conditions. Researchers suggest the approach could ultimately help researchers investigate neurological and mental health disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and depression, by providing a model for studying brain-cell activity and learning processes. The available coverage describes the work at a conceptual and experimental level, focusing on the demonstration that living cells can be trained for game tasks and the possible relevance to research into brain function. The reports do not provide additional details on timelines, study size, or specific findings beyond the game-learning demonstration.
Lab-grown brain cells trained to play classic arcade games in study
Scientists report creating a “biological computer” that uses living brain cells grown in a laboratory dish and maintained in a life-support system. The researchers connect the cultured cells to an ext...
- Researchers grow brain cells in a laboratory dish and keep them alive using a life-support system.
- The cultured cells are connected to enable interaction with external tasks.
- The system is reported to learn to play classic arcade-style games.
- Reported games include “Doom” and “Pong.”
- The work is presented as potentially useful for future research into disorders such as ADHD, autism, and depression.
The 'biological computer' has brain cells, which are grown in a dish and kept alive in a life-support system, which have learnt to play the 1990s classic Doom and the arcade game Pong.
3 months agoThe 'biological computer' has brain cells, which are grown in a dish and kept alive in a life-support system, which have learnt to play the 1990s classic Doom and the arcade game Pong.
3 months ago
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