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Rat Mind Control

Posted by timothy on from the you-will dept.

Patrick Key writes "Well, not exactly mind control but scientists have taken rat training to a new level. By inserting electrodes into the brain of a rat, they're able to effectively control a rat to move forward, left and right. They used the brain area that processes whisker info for left/right control and the pleasure center for moving forward. All sorts of interesting implications- no mention of when a human version would be available. The feat is mentioned in an IEEE's Spectrum article here"

4 of 180 comments (clear)

  1. Pentagon insists real rats not being used by dazed-n-confused · · Score: 5, Funny

    SatireWire did a take-off of this three months ago, back when it was topical.

  2. Only forwards, backwards, left and right? by PlazMatiC · · Score: 5, Funny

    All the other kids have mouse look now!

  3. does anyone else imagine by nzhavok · · Score: 4, Funny

    does anyone else imagine mad scientists racing radio contolled rats around a maze? no? just me?

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    He who defends everything, defends nothing. -- Fredrick The Great
  4. Re:I wonder how long it will be... by Subcarrier · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder how long it will be before someone hacks the rat and get linux running on it.

    Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these -- lurking in the subway tunnels.

    --
    "I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them." -- George H. W. Bush