Can Adding More Cortex Make Animals Like Humans?

  • Thread starter Secan
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In summary, scientists are still trying to figure out how to add more cortex to primates or chimpanzees/gorillas/monkeys or even dogs and cats in order to make them more like humans. They are facing many challenges, including regulatory hurdles, in trying to do this.
  • #1
Secan
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Are there any attempts to add more cortex to primates or chimpanzees/gorillas/monkeys or even dogs and cats?

Will adding cortex make them like us?

What do you think are the challenges (and how to overcome it) of engineering animals to be like humans?
 
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  • #2
Secan said:
Are there any attempts to add more cortex to primates or chimpanzees/gorillas/monkeys or even dogs and cats?

Will adding cortex make them like us?

What do you think are the challenges (and how to overcome it) of engineering animals to be like humans?
That's gross. Are you serious?
 
  • #3
Secan said:
Are there any attempts to add more cortex to primates or chimpanzees/gorillas/monkeys or even dogs and cats?
Not that I know of.
Just guessing there would be a lot of regulatory hurdles to doing this in the US or EU.
Have no idea of other places.
 
  • #4
Well that was said with respect to genetically engineering it.
Transplanting bit of neural tissue here and there was going on in the 1980's.
Not so much to add cortex to modify behavior but to test methods of getting the new neural tissue to integrate into the brain as a step to fixing medical problems.

The simplest application would be fix spinal injuries which in humans would not regenerate connections.
I knew people doing this in graduate school but have no idea of what is going on with that stuff now.
A googel search might find reveal some hits.
 
  • #5
Secan said:
Are there any attempts to add more cortex to primates or chimpanzees/gorillas/monkeys or even dogs and cats?

Will adding cortex make them like us?

What do you think are the challenges (and how to overcome it) of engineering animals to be like humans?
No, I do not believe that there are any such projects, at least none reputable, due to ethical reasons..

Your question requires too much speculation and you have provided no recognized peer reviewed examples of such things, so your thread does not meet our rules against speculation, so I am closing it.
 
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1. What is the purpose of adding cortex to primates?

The purpose of adding cortex to primates is to enhance their cognitive abilities and potentially increase their intelligence. This could have significant implications for scientific research and potential advancements in the field of neuroscience.

2. How is cortex added to primates?

Currently, there are a few different methods being explored for adding cortex to primates. One method involves injecting stem cells into the brain, which can then develop into new neurons and potentially increase the size of the cortex. Another method involves using gene therapy to introduce specific genes that can stimulate the growth of new brain tissue.

3. Are there any ethical concerns with adding cortex to primates?

Yes, there are ethical concerns surrounding this topic. Some argue that altering the brains of primates could potentially lead to unintended consequences and cause harm to the animals. There are also concerns about the potential for creating super-intelligent primates and the implications this could have on the natural balance of ecosystems.

4. Has cortex been successfully added to primates in scientific studies?

There have been some successful studies in which cortex has been added to primates, resulting in increased cognitive abilities. However, these studies are still in the early stages and more research is needed to fully understand the effects and potential benefits or risks.

5. What are the potential benefits of adding cortex to primates?

The potential benefits of adding cortex to primates include advancements in scientific research and a better understanding of the brain and its functions. It could also potentially lead to treatments for neurological disorders and diseases in both humans and primates. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and any potential risks involved.

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