Harry is a U.K.-based staff writer at Live Science. He studied Marine Biology at the University of Exeter (Penryn campus) and after graduating started his own blog site 'Marine Madness,' which he continues to run with other ocean enthusiasts. He is also interested in evolution, climate change, robots, space exploration, environmental conservation and anything that's been fossilized. When not at work he can be found watching sci-fi films, playing old Pokemon games or running (probably slower than he'd like).
A synthetic minibrain made out of human and mouse neurons has successfully learned to play the video game"Pong" after researchers hooked it up to a computer-controlled electrode array. It is the first time that brain cells isolated from an organism have completed a task like this, suggesting that such learning ability is not limited to fully intact brains locked inside animals' skulls.
Minibrains The DishBrain hardware, which was developed by Cortical Labs, consists of a small circular container, around 2 inches wide, that is lined with an array containing 1,024 active electrodes that can both send and receive electrical signals. Researchers introduced a mix of human and mouse neurons on top of these electrodes.
Playing the game During the experiments, researchers used a novel computer program, known as DishServer, combined with the electrodes inside DishBrain to create a"virtual game world" that the neurons could play"Pong" within, Kagan said. This may sound high-tech, but in reality, it isn't much different from playing a video game on a TV.
A separate section of the array monitors the electrical signals given off by the neurons in response to the"ball" signals. These neuron signals can then be interpreted by the computer program and used to maneuver the paddle in the virtual game world. This region of the neuron-electrode interface can be thought of as the game controller.
Without the reward system, it would be very hard to reinforce desirable behavior, such as hitting the ball, and discourage unfavorable behavior, like missing the ball. Left to their own devices, the neurons in DishBrain would randomly move the paddle without any consideration of where the ball is because it makes no difference to the neurons if they hit the ball or not.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Marine Le Pen Wants France to Chart Its Own Course Between U.S. and RussiaAfter securing her party’s biggest-ever gains, Marine Le Pen is now reflecting on whether she can steer France toward what she calls a strategic midpoint between the U.S., Russia and China
Read more »
Why Charles Is Ready to Ban Harry and Meghan From Coronation'It is one thing for Harry to attack Charles, he can take it on the chin, but if Harry forces him to choose, by laying into Camilla in his book, I have no doubt he will choose Camilla,' a friend of the new queen has told The Daily Beast.
Read more »
Aerial View: Harry Styles Fans Camp Outside United Center Ahead of His Thursday ShowHarry Styles fans are camping outside the United Center in Chicago in hopes of getting as close to “Harry’s House” as possible.
Read more »
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 Pitch MeetingScreen Rant's latest Pitch Meeting episode casts its wand upon the final film in the Wizarding World saga, HarryPotter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, playfully pointing out its magical inconsistencies.
Read more »
Bears' WR N'Keal Harry Inactive for Commanders Game on Thursday Night FootballBears wide receiver N’Keal Harry is working back from an ankle injury.
Read more »
Harry Styles’ Former Los Angeles Home Hits the Market for $8M (Exclusive)See inside the 4,400-square-foot, four-bedroom Hollywood Hills house that was owned by the pop superstar from 2016 to 2019.
Read more »