Australian Scientists Train Brain Cells to Play 'Doom'
Translated from Estonian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Australian scientists have trained lab-grown brain cells to play the classic 1990s first-person shooter game "Doom" using a special silicon chip.
- This development, by Cortical Labs, allows living neurons to learn to respond to a digital environment and adapt in real-time.
- Researchers believe this is just the first step, and the true potential of neural cultures could be much broader.
In a groundbreaking development, Australian scientists have successfully trained lab-grown brain cells to play the iconic first-person shooter game "Doom." The experiment, conducted by Cortical Labs, utilized a specialized silicon chip to interface with the cultured neurons, enabling them to perceive and react to the game's environment.
The research demonstrates that these living neurons can learn to respond to digital stimuli and adapt their behavior in real-time. This marks a significant step in understanding how biological neural networks can interact with artificial systems. The scientists involved see this as a foundational achievement, suggesting that the capabilities of neural cultures extend far beyond this initial demonstration.
While the "Doom" experiment showcases the cells' ability to learn and adapt, the researchers emphasize that this is merely the beginning. They posit that the potential applications for such bio-integrated technology are vast and could revolutionize fields ranging from artificial intelligence to medicine. The team is eager to explore these broader possibilities in future research.
This is just the first step, because the actual potential of neural cultures can be much broader.
Originally published by Postimees in Estonian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.