Scientists Combine Monkey Brains to Form a Collective Brain Network, Coined as a "Brainet"
In a groundbreaking development, scientists have successfully demonstrated the concept of "brainets" - a network of multiple brains working together to control a single machine - through a series of experiments involving monkeys and rats.
At Duke University Medical Center, researchers connected each monkey's brain to a computer via electrodes, enabling them to work together and control a virtual robotic arm. Despite their brains not being connected directly, the monkeys were able to manipulate the arm and reach a target, a feat they were rewarded for with juice. The scientists referred to this synchronized brain work as a "superbrain", or a combination of all three of their brains together.
Similarly, a group of four rats were connected to each other and tasked with controlling a single machine. While the rats had a 61% success rate, the experiment showcased the potential of multiple brains working together to achieve a common goal.
These findings could pave the way for enhanced collaborative brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), allowing groups of humans to combine neural activity to achieve shared goals more efficiently than individuals alone. The potential for direct brain-to-brain communication is also intriguing, offering new ways of sharing thoughts, intentions, or sensory experiences, and potentially enhancing empathy and teamwork.
However, the technology raises profound ethical questions about mental privacy, consent, and control, since brain-to-brain interfaces could potentially access or influence thoughts and decisions directly. Privacy concerns and the potential for thoughts accidentally leaking out are significant issues that need to be addressed.
In another development, scientists have created FlyingBuddy2, a technology that uses wireless EEG headsets to read brain activity and control a drone. Users can make the drone move forward by thinking right, move up by thinking push, and take pictures by blinking.
As we look to the future, it's important to consider the potential implications of these advancements. While we are far from such technology becoming commonplace, it is crucial to address ethical concerns and societal challenges before fully embracing these developments. After all, what was once considered science fiction is now becoming a reality, and the pace of technological advancement shows no signs of slowing down.
- The fusion of science, technology, and health-and-wellness has led to the creation of a drone named FlyingBuddy2, controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) using wireless EEG headsets and a person's brain activity.
- As mental-health researchers continue to explore technologies like brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), the entertainment industry has begun to integrate AI-driven advancements, with AI potentially offering new ways to share thoughts, intentions, or sensory experiences in pop-culture.
- The successful "brainet" experiments at Duke University Medical Center have sparked discussions about the future of therapies-and-treatments, where direct brain-to-brain communication could prove valuable for enhancing empathy, teamwork, and even mental health.
- However, the technological advancements in BCIs and AI raise ethical questions about mental privacy, consent, and control, as these technologies could potentially access, influence, or leak thoughts and decisions directly, affecting personal freedoms significantly.
