Does Research Exist on Biological Neural Network Chips?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential for using living brain cells, specifically animal stem cells, to create biological neural network chips. Participants explore the feasibility, ethical implications, and existing research related to this concept, including comparisons to traditional silicon chips and previous experiments with neural colonies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the lack of research on using living brain cells to form neural networks, expressing interest in potential applications.
  • Another participant references a past experiment where a rat neuron colony was used to pilot a flight simulator, suggesting that the complexity of brain structures complicates the idea of simply planting a neuron colony.
  • There is a proposal that a developing brain could be hardwired to specific inputs and outputs, potentially allowing it to learn in a controlled environment, although this raises ethical concerns.
  • Participants discuss the concept of growing "mini-brains" in the lab, indicating ongoing research in brain development outside of the body.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the feasibility and ethical implications of using living brain cells for neural networks. While some acknowledge past research, there is no consensus on the practicality or ethics of such approaches.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of brain plasticity and the evolutionary development of neural structures, suggesting that simply using random neuron colonies may not yield useful outcomes. Ethical considerations regarding the manipulation of living brains are also noted.

EskWIRED
Messages
99
Reaction score
0
I have seen articles dealing with the growth of brain cells using stem cells. I have also seen, in the past, research attempting to mimic neural connections (using traditional silicon chips) for use in computing.

I have searched for any mention of research into using actual living brain cells to form such a neural network, and I have found nothing.

I am wondering about using, as the basis for a neural network chip, living, growing brain cells which could form new neural networks, as needed, much in the same way such networks are formed in growing, learning animals.. I am thinking that maybe a new type of chip could be made for novel applications.

Is anybody doing research into the use of animal stem cells for construction of neural networks?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
There was a rat neuron colony to pilot F-22 simulator in 2004 ( http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041022104658.htm ), but I haven't seen anything more recent there ... and I generally don't think it is so simple.
The brain has extreme plasticity, but it has obtained the flexibility due to millions of years of evolution - leading to precise structures (like connections with hippocampus) and stochastic rules (e.g. retina itself has about 50 different types of neurons) ... you cannot just plant a random neuron colony and expect that it will self-assemble into something useful.
Much more reasonable (but less ethical) would be taking a developing brain and hardwire it to a new set of inputs/outputs, like to a flight simulator - so it would be the only "life" it knows ... with the proper training/motivation I think a rat brain could be a great pilot ... with similar ethics as drones.
 
jarekd said:
Much more reasonable (but less ethical) would be taking a developing brain and hardwire it to a new set of inputs/outputs, like to a flight simulator - so it would be the only "life" it knows ... with the proper training/motivation I think a rat brain could be a great pilot ... with similar ethics as drones.

Thanks for the link. It was very interesting. I looked and found the http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/behindtheheadlines/news/2013-08-29-scientists-grow-mini-human-brain-in-the-lab/, and indeed, they were growing "mini-brains".
 
Thanks - interesting and scaring. And it is a bit different - just recreating brain development out of the body.
I have found a paper about this piloting F-22: it was "to maintain straight and level flight" by "rat embryonic (day 18) cortical hemispheres": http://neural.bme.ufl.edu/page13/assets/NeuroFlght2.pdf
 

Similar threads

Question on Neural network transplant ?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Mathematica Neural networks in Wolfram Mathematica
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Magnetoreception in Animals
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
2K
How does a neuron decide when to send a signal?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
Applied Maths of Neural Networks -- books and papers?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
MHB Neural Networks : Which stock has the biggest increase ?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
How many living cells on Earth?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Programs Diploma thesis - Neural Network Application in Physical Problems
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
[Neural Networks] Classification of a sick brain
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
How Do Insect Muscles Enhance the Function of Compound Eyes?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K