ScienceDaily (Aug. 14, 2008) — A multidisciplinary team at the University of Reading has developed a robot which is controlled by a biological brain formed from cultured neurons. This cutting-edge research is the first step to examine how memories manifest themselves in the brain, and how a brain stores specific pieces of data.

The robot's biological brain is made up of cultured neurons which are placed onto a multi-electrode array (MEA). The MEA is a dish with approximately 60 electrodes which pick up the electrical signals generated by the cells. This is then used to drive the movement of the robot. Every time the robot nears an object, signals are directed to stimulate the brain by means of the electrodes. In response, the brain's output is used to drive the wheels of the robot, left and right, so that it moves around in an attempt to avoid hitting objects. The robot has no additional control from a human or a computer, its sole means of control is from its own brain.(ok, wasn't this from the movie "cyborg"?)

The researchers are now working to wards getting the robot to learn by applying different signals as it moves into predefined positions. It is hoped that as the learning progresses, it will be possible to witness how memories manifest themselves in the brain when the robot revisits familiar territory.(Then there is the redneck approach..."watch it jump when I hit it with the cattle prod...he he he , and hand me a beer....sounds fun to me,,...lol)

Professor Kevin Warwick from the School of Systems Engineering, said: "This new research is tremendously exciting as firstly the biological brain controls its own moving robot body, and secondly it will enable us to investigate how the brain learns and memorizes its experiences. This research will move our understanding forward of how brains work, and could have a profound effect on many areas of science and medicine." (The potential is incredible....traumatic brain injury, fixed by a bio-chip, strokes, Alzheimer's, hey even "retards" can get their IQ boosted.....yes I know that is an offensive word, but read Aza's post on it and you will see where I get the comment from...)

Dr Ben Whalley from the School of Pharmacy, said: "One of the fundamental questions that scientists are facing today is how we link the activity of individual neurons with the complex behaviors that we see in whole organisms. This project gives us a really unique opportunity to look at something which may exhibit complex behaviors, but still remain closely tied to the activity of individual neurons. Hopefully we can use that to go some of the way to answer some of these very fundamental questions. "...(remember the movie Johnny Mnemonic....next thing you know we will have access ports in the back of our heads.......Hold on I can't understand you, ....zaaaap....there I just downloaded swahili...now try it.....organo-electronics....wow...bet Jules Verne never seen this coming...lol...riff)