Comments on: Lab-grown implanted neurons fuse with brain circuitry

By: Ralph Dratman

Ralph Dratman — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 02:56:10 +0000

I am more than ready for my Google-to-brain interface. I have always wanted to know EVERYTHING. The hour for the realization of that dream is approaching.

By: Giulio Prisco

Giulio Prisco — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:38:36 +0000

I hope “human exceptionalism” has no place here.

We _are_ animals, just like the other animals as far as our biological origin is concerned. Our intelligence, a product of Darwinian evolution, will permit us to transcend biology in a new post-Darwinian phase of our evolution.

By: melajara

melajara — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:08:53 +0000

I fully agree with you. I was just playing “Devil’s advocate” as actually I’m quite in disagreement with those so called religious groups hampering research on stem cells.

By: silentrage

silentrage — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:46:36 +0000

@melajara
I would take mouse cells to cure myself of neurodegenerative diseases if I had to, or to augment my intelligence.

Human brain cells are not noble by virtue of being human, just as there are un-noble humans whom I would prefer the company of animals over.

Bio-compatibility is the only thing that matters in this case.

If your sentimentality is based on the idea of human superiority then I’m afraid it is baseless.

By: melajara

melajara — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 16:19:32 +0000

I’m glad nobody complains about the ethics of “constraining” human neurons, arguably the noblest cells in the human realm to express themselves in the limits of a mouse brain.
Now how about the reverse experiment, would you like to be “enhanced” by mouse neurons?
Btw, this experiment will teach you new tricks, like the ability to recognize at once the unique signature of thousand of CHEESES ;-)

By: Giulio Prisco

Giulio Prisco — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 10:57:14 +0000

Implanting neurons (that is, adding new neurons) is included in this research. Another research area to watch closely is artificial neurons. Someday in the next two or three decades we will be able to build artificial neurons in the lab and add them to the brain, which will open up very exciting possibilities and in my opinion is one of the best candidate technologies forming uploading.

By: harleyborgais

harleyborgais — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:53:40 +0000

I would like some extra neurons added to my short term memory and visualization areas.

It seems to me that if we cannot grow more neurons to record new patterns than some of those will never be able to increase their mental capacities past a certain point.

For me there is a limit to how much I can remember for an equation (a few steps) or how much I can visualize (like an early 3d modeling computer). I dont want machines in me but more Neurons seems like the trick.

Anyone undertaking a long-term task, far more complex than any in their previous life, could perhaps benefit from having more Neurons added carefully to the correct locations in the brain which are active while those limits are being reached (as seen in an MRI or such scanner).

When trying to remember something fundamentally different from all one knows, that seems to me the time to insert new neurons to the active locations which can store those patterns.