The brain networks allow animals to exchange motor and sensory information in real time.
If this sounds like it’s straight out of a science fiction movie, you’re right. In the 2013 summer blockbuster Pacific Rim, two people were required to link their brains together in order to pilot gigantic robots. Scientists are setting their sights lower with the current experiments, focusing on “linking” the brains of rodents and primates, and seeing if they are able to work together to complete simple tasks and puzzles.
Scientists have already successfully linked four mice together to exchange sensory information regarding a simple pattern-based puzzle, and even predict weather readings. In some cases, the researchers found that the networked “rat net” was able to outperform single rats.
Scientists also created a brain link for rhesus monkeys, and had them work on controlling a virtual avatar arm on a digital display. The monkeys could only control two of the three variables required to move the arm, meaning they had to rely on one another to share information. With some time and training, they were able to complete their tasks, suggesting that they were able to pass along information via the networks and coordinate their actions.
The experiments mark a radical breakthrough in Brain-Machine-Interfaces, which are computational systems that allow people and animals to use their brains to move artificial devices, such as a prosthetic arm, or a virtual avatar.
Scientists have been able to capture brain signals for quite some time. The recent advances in brain networking, however, represents one of the first times that scientists have been able to get brains to successfully work together on a task.
The research is being conducted at Duke University as part of the Walk Again Project. Among other things, the scientists hope that a non-invasive human network can be set up to facilitate communication with paralyzed people and to aid in their rehabilitation.
