Monkeys Use Minds To Control Avatar Arms 43
sciencehabit writes "Researchers have for the first time devised a setup that allows monkeys to control two virtual arms with their thoughts. Two monkeys had electrodes implanted into its right and left brain hemisphere, which recorded the activity of up to 500 neurons acting together—the highest number of neurons yet used in such an experiment. The animal's task was to control the movement of two avatar arms on a computer monitor: To get a fruit juice reward, it had to place both hands over two circles and hold them there for 100 milliseconds. A computer algorithm processed the monkey's brain activity, homing in on patterns of neurons firing as it learned to do the task. Both animals' performances improved over time, and the researchers noticed that their neuronal firing patterns changed as this happened, suggesting that their brains were adapting to the brain-machine interfaces. This could be because the monkeys came to consider the virtual arms as part of their own bodies, the lead researcher suggests. 'The animals literally incorporate the avatar as if the avatar was them.'"
the next huge videogame (Score:4, Funny)
BrainLink: Poo Fling 3000!
Re: (Score:1)
I CAN SINNNNNNNNNG
Totally funny. Don't know why you got rated as off-topic.
Tougher Challenge (Score:1)
Fling poo!
Isn't that how "Surrogates" started? (Score:2)
Amazing (Score:1, Troll)
Monkeys and every other living creature with a brain uses their mind to control all kinds of things. Why is this remotely interesting to anyone?
Show me one example of anyone anywhere controlling anything without using their mind.
I'm typing this grouchy rant right now... using my mind! Is that worth getting written up on /. for?
Or could the headline actually mean, "Monkey controls something using millions of dollars of custom hardware that replaces the functions of some of its nervous system and musculature
Re:Amazing (Score:5, Funny)
Show me one example of anyone anywhere controlling anything without using their mind.
Republicans in government? [e.g. http://science.slashdot.org/story/13/11/06/2139206/republican-proposal-puts-national-interest-requirement-on-us-science-agency [slashdot.org] ]
Re: (Score:2)
Good answer.
Re: (Score:2)
Why is it interesting? -- because it won't be long before the monkeys can start working as editors on Slashdot.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
"using my mind!"
doubtful...
If even monkeys can use it... (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Would you trust a mechanical hand to not accidentally rip off your cock? And no, I don't think they would be able to reattach it at the hospital, they'd be too busy laughing.
Well, I trusted some meth-addict skank with like a hundred piercings and tattoos not to accidentally bite it off the other day, so why not?
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Thanks for making me laugh so hard I think I woke up the people next door.
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"Oh, yeah, just like a real hand" - http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/The_Robotic_Manipulation [wikia.com]
an oldie (Score:2)
I for one welcome our 4 armed monkey overlords.
Tools (Score:2)
I guess.. (Score:2)
Then again Sigourney Weaver did star in Gorillas in the Mist...
We can only hope... (Score:2)
That, when they replace the current crop of summary writers, the monkeys will be able to distinguish singular and plural.
Two monkeys had electrodes implanted into its right and left brain hemisphere...
*shudder*
(I am an editor: the shudder is real.)
Re: (Score:2)
(I am an editor: the shudder is real.)
Shouldn't that be a semicolon?
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No.
Get your paws off me you dirty ape. (Score:1)
Monkeys Use Minds To Control Avatar Arms
Those monkeys get into everything!
Cue military experiments (Score:2)
Cue military experiments involving "gun arms" in 3,2,1...
Spider Monkey (Score:1)
Just like the rest of us monkeys are going to have to learn that, "With great power comes great responsibility."
what would you choose? (Score:2)
If you could get direct cranial links to body part avatars, which parts would you like some extras of? //thinking of 2 more ears so could hear Quadrophenia the way it's supposed to be heard :-)
Get your virtual hands off me (Score:2)
you damn dirty ape!
We'll be fine just as long as.... (Score:2)
....none of 'em answer to the name "Caesar"....