First, we thought only we human plays video games.
Then, we found out that animals can play video games through learning.
Now, scientists have proved that brain cells are capable of that, too.
Australian scientist teams specializing in biology and AI at Cortical Labs recently reported their amazing findings in Neuron, a neuroscience journal, that they have successfully taught lab-grown brain cells to play Pong.
Living brain cells in a dish can learn to play Pong when they are placed in what researchers describe as a "virtual game world". "We think it's fair to call them cyborg’s brains," says Brett Kagan, chief scientific officer of Cortical Labs, who leads the research.
Many teams around the world have been studying networks of neurons in dishes, often growing them into brain-like organoids. But this is the first time mini-brains have been found to perform goal-directed tasks, says Kagan.
Source: NewScientist