Robot Brings Patch-Clamping To the Masses 59
scibri writes about robots helping neuroscientists dig into the brains of (animal) test subjects. From the article: "Robots designed to perform whole-cell patch-clamping, a difficult but powerful method that allows neuroscientists to access neurons' internal electrical workings, could make the tricky technique commonplace. Scientists from MIT have designed a robot that can record electrical currents in up to 4 neurons in the brains of anesthetized mice (abstract) at once, and they hope to extend it to up to 100 at a time. The robot finds its target on the basis of characteristic changes in the electrical environment near neurons. Then, the device nicks the cell's membrane and seals itself around the tiny hole to access the neuron's contents."
one step closer (Score:5, Funny)
Re:one step closer (Score:3, Funny)
I'm not sure I want to know how your TV has ravaged you...I hope for your personal safety it's unplugged when it ravages you in the future.
Re:Eeek (Score:2, Funny)
You're getting your brain clamped. Deal with it.
What I immediately thought of (Score:3, Funny)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf8_tn7lBIc [youtube.com]