A Clump of Human Brain Cells on a Computer Chip Learned to Play the Nostalgic Video Game 'Doom'

The technology could one day help researchers develop drugs and tailor treatments to individual patients. A team of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, has successfully grown a clump of human brain cells on a computer chip. The brain cells, known as neurons, were able to learn and play the classic video game 'Doom' by navigating a virtual environment and interacting with virtual objects.

This breakthrough could have significant implications for the development of new treatments for neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. By studying how the brain cells learn and adapt, researchers may be able to develop new therapies that can help restore lost cognitive function.

The researchers used a technique called brain-computer interface (BCI) to connect the brain cells to a computer chip. The BCI allowed the brain cells to communicate with the computer and interact with the virtual environment.

The study was published in the journal ^[1] and was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Sources

[1] A Clump of Human Brain Cells on a Computer Chip Learned to Play the Nostalgic Video Game 'Doom'