""Rats don't have a sense of self"
The so-called "researchers" have no clue about animals. Ignore them.
And for GAWD/ESS's sake, don't give them any more research dollars!
Neuroboffins at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, have managed to link the brains of two rats on different continents in an experiment they claim could pave the way for organic supercomputers built from networked animal brains. In a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports on Thursday, Duke researcher Miguel …
Agree. A pointless abomination. At first I thought they might be investigating nerve injuries but no, their ideas are more in the "perverted science" domain.
On the other hand, a flame throwing mind-melded reg-commentard beast would be a thing to behold. We could take over the world! Or at least make some pithy comments.
"If there was some explainable means to and end, then fine!"
There is. Read the article.
OK, it was probably started with "I wonder what would happen if we linked 2 brains together" (possibly followed by "that'd be so cool! Now get another round in") , but the research shows that joining 2 brains may have some purpose.
Personally, I hate the idea of experimenting on animals. I think it is cruel. However, it is a necessary evil in my view. Without it we would not be able to do half of what we do today. I hope, some day, we no longer need to, but for now it's the best option available to us.
Please do not confuse the press release with the science.
A quick skim of the actual article reveals none of the wild speculation present here. The most speculative I can see is this: "Such a computing structure could define the first example of an organic computer capable of solving heuristic problems that would be deemed non-computable by a general Turing-machine."
Sadly too often it's all about getting research dollars/pounds/euros by producing buzzword-infested papers regardless of the real utility or contribution to actual knowledge, and regardless as well of the ethical implications, like this misguided Frankenstein experiment. It's the equivalent of plucking the legs of grasshoppers and claiming that you are doing research. Disgusting.
I am totally with those who are affronted by the use of animals in this way. It is like the researchers who wired up a cat a couple of years ago to be able to see through its eyes!
On light thought, seem to remember that rodents were involved in the research leading to "the answer is 42" in Hitchhikers Guide. If they are that bright maybe they or their Borgish descendants should be given the chance, as an apology, to do the Mars Mission in 2018!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21604005
says: "[It] takes about 45 days of training an hour a day," said Prof Nicolelis.
"There is a moment in time when... it clicks. Suddenly the [decoder] animal realises: 'Oops! The solution is in my head. It's coming to me' and he gets it right."
...so who knows what kind of stimulus the decoder is experiencing; the smell of almonds? Nostalgia?
You ever regret past comments? I do. I feel sorry for the rats. They don't have a say in it.
I was daft enough to mention in a couple of places in the past that brains could be networked together. This is not what I envisioned. It was in reply to the abilities of brainport technology, currently used to provide one way feedback to human hosts from video cameras ie providing sight to the blind. I then highlighted that the same approach could be used with other types of data, including UV, infra red, ultrasound etc. I further highlighted that the language barrier would be broken and potentially the species barrier as brain to brain communication offered a far more efficient means of utilizing the brain's natural plasticity. Language and individual thinking is slow and inefficient, limited by it's own natural resources and relatively slow learning mechanisms.
I did not have this in mind. I was expecting development using the human nervous system - preferably developed for those with disabilities who could volunteer for testing and benefit in the process. I would have thought that a far more constructive approach than direct brain surgery on helpless animals.
It is the ability to remotely coerce another brain into carrying out what you want them to do.
The neat part of this is they seem to have tried out various locations for the electrodes to get the best results. So they are sharpening up the tools for this exercise.
That does not sound much like some kind of organic networked computer to me. More like the descendents of MKSearch/ MKUltra.
I'd agree the Phol/Kornbluth novel "Wolfbane" is very good example of the supposed purpose of this idea. Likewise I can see the point of being able to descramble the actual optic nerve signals to enable advanced prostheses. As described so far not so sure.
Highly suspicious.
if what they are trying to do is at all possible even slighty possible i think it's clear you could put this bunch of nitwits in a lab and throw an much money at them as you like and never get real progress. 64 %? 100% this is utter rubbish and no ratty mind meld action took place , now stop wasting busy rats time
"Use your mind-controlled battle rat to battle the rats of other trainers. Become the ultimate rat battlelord. [Puts on mind control helmet]. I just hope this minnnnnd kontrulllll hellllmutttt isssssnt tooo wayyyyy ............squeak, squeak, squeak."
You laugh now.
But you'll be playing it in 2 years time.
Call me squeamish but I can't say I am looking forward to the day when a bunch of self aware linked primate brains decides that it has more intellect than the humans who put it together and that it should be the ruler of the entire planet. Especially if it takes offence at the way it has been treated.
I hope someone is ensuring there are failsafes in place here.
I'll be more interesting when they can record, translate, and play back the experiences of Subject A for Subject B.
The translation layer could be tricky at first. Would likely need some intermediary (generic) way to represent experiences, which are re-encoded at playback time for each target individual.
Wouldn't be too surprising if this becomes a world of patent hurt. :/