US Researchers 'Hack' Fly Brains and Control Them Remotely (interestingengineering.com) 39
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Interesting Engineering: A research team consisting of scientists from some of the top institutes in the U.S. have demonstrated a wireless technology that allows neurons in a fly brain to be controlled in less than a second, an institutional press release said. [...] Called Magnetic, Optical, Acoustic Neural Access (MOANA), the program aims to develop a wireless headset that can facilitate brain-to-brain communication in a nonsurgical manner. Jacob Robinson, an associate professor at Rice University is among the researchers working on the project, and his team has developed a method to hack fly brains wirelessly.
The research team used genetic engineering to express a special ion channel in flies' neuronal cells, which can be activated using heat. When the ion channel is activated, the flies spread out their wings, as they would do as part of their mating gesture. To activate the channel at will, the researchers then injected the experimental flies with nanoparticles that could be heated by applying a magnetic field. The genetically modified flies were then introduced into an enclosure that had an electromagnet on top and a camera to capture the movements of the flies. When the researchers activated the electromagnet, the electric field heated the nanoparticles, which activated the neurons, resulting in the flies spreading their wings, as seen in the short video [here]. Analyzing the video from the experiments, the researchers also found that the time lapse between the activation of the electromagnet and the spreading of wings was less than half a second.
Robinson is confident that this ability to precisely activate cells will be helpful in studying the brain, developing brain communication technology as well as treating brain-related disorders. The team is focused on developing technology that will help restore vision in people even if their eyes do not work. They aim to achieve this by stimulating parts of the brain that are associated with a vision to give a sense of vision in the absence of functional eyes. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Materials.
The research team used genetic engineering to express a special ion channel in flies' neuronal cells, which can be activated using heat. When the ion channel is activated, the flies spread out their wings, as they would do as part of their mating gesture. To activate the channel at will, the researchers then injected the experimental flies with nanoparticles that could be heated by applying a magnetic field. The genetically modified flies were then introduced into an enclosure that had an electromagnet on top and a camera to capture the movements of the flies. When the researchers activated the electromagnet, the electric field heated the nanoparticles, which activated the neurons, resulting in the flies spreading their wings, as seen in the short video [here]. Analyzing the video from the experiments, the researchers also found that the time lapse between the activation of the electromagnet and the spreading of wings was less than half a second.
Robinson is confident that this ability to precisely activate cells will be helpful in studying the brain, developing brain communication technology as well as treating brain-related disorders. The team is focused on developing technology that will help restore vision in people even if their eyes do not work. They aim to achieve this by stimulating parts of the brain that are associated with a vision to give a sense of vision in the absence of functional eyes. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Materials.
Heeeelllllpppp Meeee (Score:2)
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What could possibly go wrong ?
Judging by YouTube videos from many first-time drone pilots, the researchers will probably crash their fly into a tree.
Medical uses (Score:2, Funny)
Something similar would be a great improvement over Viagra. Imagine being able to ejaculate on command.
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Imagine being able to ejaculate on command.
That's not Viagra, that's called PornHub.
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It would add an extra level of madness to summer heat waves.
West World - Season 4 (Score:3, Interesting)
Obligatory (Score:4, Funny)
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They are already ruling from DC, are you sure?
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Oh come on. Flies have to be smarter than the imbeciles in DC.
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Oh come on. Flies have to be smarter than the imbeciles in DC.
At least they can be commanded to show up.
Mosquitos (Score:2)
Can they do this to mosquitos and make them drop dead if they come near my place?
Yawn . . . (Score:2)
Let me know when I can use this on the little f-ers who keep materializing in my kitchen around mealtimes.
Be afraid. (Score:2)
The results are trivial at this moment but the concerted research into brain control over the past decades should frighten you.
There are no use-cases for brain control that are positive or beneficial.
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There are no use-cases for brain control that are positive or beneficial.
I doubt that's true, frankly, although it would be a reversal of all of human history if such a dangerous technology were used mostly beneficially. There have got to be disorders and other conditions where brain control could help people.
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There are no use-cases for brain control that are positive or beneficial.
I doubt that's true, frankly, although it would be a reversal of all of human history if such a dangerous technology were used mostly beneficially. There have got to be disorders and other conditions where brain control could help people.
There yo go, using that magic word that separates the eventual manufacturers and buyers from the sane, well-raised and kind people with good intentions. There's money to be made, and those who have it didn't get it from being good, caring ones with the betterment of Humanity being their primary focal point. Just sayin'.
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Brain control in the form of trans-cranial magnetic stimulation is an excellent antidepressant.
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Brain control in the form of trans-cranial magnetic stimulation is an excellent antidepressant.
I'm sorry, but I have to. I can't control my fingers.
"Think just like I am, and your sadness and hopelessness will disappear!"
There, I said (typed) it. Fingers relaxing now.
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Except that's not how TCMS works, which you would know if you were a geek.
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Except that's not how TCMS works, which you would know if you were a geek.
I wasn't referring to TCMS. I was attempting to be humorous with a mixture between the article of remote brain (well, call it control) and TCMS, rolled into one. I'm sorry that I didn't catch you in a humor-bearing moment or append the humor tag (/h) to the end of the comment. Apologies.
Pretty (Score:3)
Praise the good Lord almighty! (Score:2)
The term hack was used in the media in a relatively correct manner!
It's a good Wednesday. It can all go downhill from here, and I'll still declare the day a success.
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The term hack was used in the media in a relatively correct manner!
It's a good Wednesday. It can all go downhill from here, and I'll still declare the day a success.
You're right.
Crap. That means the storms that are a 50% chance will be forced 10 miles south this afternoon and evening and ravage the area. If the day could only have stayed Bad Wednesday from the beginning.. ;)
Just in time ... (Score:2)
In related news: Democrats hold on to their House of Representatives majority.
Hyperbole (Score:3)
Seems like a gigantic distance in capability between causing flies to spread their wings on demand and "restore vision in people even if their eyes do not work". Especially since they also had to implement "genetic engineering to express a special ion channel in flies' neuronal cells" to make this work. Apparently in the future we will get our brains tuned up with magnetogenetics and wear a controller on our heads.
Imagine a beowulf cluster of these (Score:2)
Flies.
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Flies.
Yes, and now you're the Lord of The[m].
Full Duplex (Score:2)
What the article failed to mention is that the system is now full duplex, as flies have apparently been controlling the brains of journalists since 2016.