Lab-grown brain cells play video game Pong

Image source, Cortical Labs

In a lab, researchers have grown brain cells that can be used to play a game.

The mini-brain can sense and respond to the environment.

The first ''sentient'' lab-grown brain was created in a dish, according to a letter written by a doctor.

The work is exciting, but other experts don't think calling the brain cells sentient is right.

There was no better term to describe the device. It can process and respond to information from an external source.

The first mini-brains were created to study microcephaly, a genetic disorder where the brain is too small.

This is the first time they've been plugged into and interacted with an outside environment.

• grew human brain cells grown from stem cells and some from mouse embryos to a collection of 800,000
• connected this mini-brain to the video game via electrodes revealing which side the ball was on and how far from the paddle

The cells generated electrical activity of their own.

As the game went on, they used less energy.

When the game resumed with the ball at a random point, they spent more time recalibrating to a new situation.

The mini-brain was able to play in 5 minutes.

The success rate was much higher than random chance.

The researchers stress that it doesn't know it is playing a game like a human would.

The technology may someday be used to test treatments for Alzheimer's.

People are looking at tissues in a dish to see if there is activity or not. The purpose of brain cells is to process information. There are many more research areas that can be explored if you tap into their true function.

The mini-brain's ability to play pong will be tested.

This would show how effective the system might be as an experiment.

Many dictionary definitions state that sentient means having the capacity to have feelings and sensations.

The term ''thinking system'' is preferred by the research associate of the psychology school.

He says that there is information being passed around that causes changes and that theStimulus they are receiving is being thought about.

As the research progresses, the mini-brains are likely to become more complex, but Dr Kagan's team are working with bioethicists to make sure they don't accidentally create a conscious brain.

After years of dedicated research, the first transistors were not very reliable, but they led to huge technological marvels across the world.

There are devices that can beat grandmasters at chess.

Prof Karl Friston says that the mini-brain can be learned without being taught.

The breakthrough on Inside Science can be heard on the radio.

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