This amazing project is using rat brain neurons  to control robots.    Like other projects of its kind, they are finding that the neurons almost immediately seek interconnection – in some ways they appear to be  pre-programmed (aka evolutionarily designed) to assemble into more advanced forms.

Unfortunately for misguided and shortsighted ethical reasons reasearches are not using human neurons, but as they note here that’s not a huge problem because our human brain cells have a lot in common with rats cells – or other vertebrates for that matter.

As Kevin Warwick, the project architect who one might call something of an “Dr A.I. Frankenstein”, notes:

…. rats brain cells are not a bad stand-in: much of the difference between rodent and human intelligence, speculates Warwick, could be attributed to quantity not quality.

Thanks to Glenn for the tip!