Remote Controlled Rats

from the mrs.-frisbee-and-the-rats-of-NIMH dept

By implanting electrical probes into the brains of rats, scientists have discovered a way to turn the rats into remote controlled "roborats". The signals trigger the left and right regions of the brain, along with the "pleasure zone" -- which rewards desired behaviours. I suppose some ethical questions can be raised here, but I wonder if it's really less ethical than bridling up a horse or housebreaking a dog.
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  1. identicon
    ScooterBoy, 2 May 2002 @ 12:45am

    picture!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    msykes, 2 May 2002 @ 10:40am

    :-)

    Okay, I rarely watch "The Practice", but I am reminded of a recent episode where one of the lawyers was up for some kind of award, and ended up killing a rat (mouse?) just before the award ceremony, had to enter some kind of big coverup operation because it would be bad PR...

    I'm sure there are some people who will get all bent out of shape on this, but come on, we have tapped directly into their PLEASURE centers! These have got to be the happiest rats ever!

    Side note: You know those "Good cheese comes from happy cows, happy cows come from California" commericals? Some group is pissed off because they are misleading commercials, and that maybe California cows aren't that happy after all. Of course they aren't complaining that talking cows are misleading...

    msykes

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    np, 3 May 2002 @ 4:24am

    robot rats

    You can find related science news and some background info on our site, please visit:

    NeuroProsthesis News

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    np, 3 May 2002 @ 4:26am

    Re: picture! - robot rats

    for related science news and some background info please visit

    NeuroProsthesis News

    link to this | view in thread ]


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