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A multidisciplinary team at the University of Reading has developed a robot which is controlled by a biological brain formed from cultured neurons. This cutting edge research is the first step to examine how memories manifest themselves in the brain, and how a brain stores specific pieces of data.

The key aim is that eventually this will lead to a better understanding of development and of diseases and disorders which affect the brain such as Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, stoke and brain injury.

The robot’s biological brain is made up of cultured neurons which are placed onto a multi electrode array (MEA). The MEA is a dish with approximately 60 electrodes which pick up the electrical signals generated by the cells. This is then used to drive the movement of the robot.
Every time the robot nears an object, signals are directed to stimulate the brain by means of the electrodes. In response, the brain's output is used to drive the wheels of the robot, left and right, so that it moves around in an attempt to avoid hitting objects. The robot has no additional control from a human or a computer, its sole means of control is from its own brain.

The researchers are now working towards getting the robot to learn by applying different signals as it moves into predefined positions. It is hoped that as the learning progresses, it will be possible to witness how memories manifest themselves in the brain when the robot revisits familiar territory.

Professor Kevin Warwick from the School of Systems Engineering said “This new research is tremendously exciting as firstly the biological brain controls its own moving robot body, and secondly it will enable us to investigate how the brain learns and memorises its experiences. This research will move our understanding forward of how brains work, and could have a profound effect on many areas of science and medicine.”

Dr Ben Whalley from the School of Pharmacy said “One of the fundamental questions that scientists are facing today is how we link the activity of individual neurons with the complex behaviours that we see in whole organisms. This project gives us a really unique opportunity to look at something which may exhibit complex behaviours, but still remain closely tied to the activity of individual neurons. Hopefully we can use that to go some of the way to answer some of these very fundamental questions. “

the other intrpid class ships in star trek used bio organic material to use as relays on-board their ships

What exactly do you mean by "relay"? What is it?

Please, go on if you want to. ^_^

sorry your all wrong, neither terminator, i robot or matrix used real brains to power the robots, this is closer to borgs which are actually cyborgs meaning they use both artificial and organic material, these are by no means robots which are autonomous arfticial beings.

also like to point out voyager and the other intrpid class ships in star trek used bio organic material to use as relays on-board their ships its also speculated that enterprise e uses this technology as its from a later date then voyager.

there are a couple of other shows that use cyborgs if you want to know what they are and more about them il be happy to go on with my geekness but il leave it at this

sorry your all wrong, neither terminator, i robot or matrix used real brains to power the robots, this is closer to borgs which are actually cyborgs meaning they use both artificial and organic material, these are by no means robots which are autonomous arfticial beings.

also like to point out voyager and the other intrpid class ships in star trek used bio organic material to use as relays on-board their ships its also speculated that enterprise e uses this technology as its from a later date then voyager.

there are a couple of other shows that use cyborgs if you want to know what they are and more about them il be happy to go on with my geekness but il leave it at this

I remember an episode of voyager where the packs with the organic matter in it where being infected with some virus. I think it was cheese...

yeh nelix was making cheese for one of the ensigns xD

ontop of that they cannot be replicated which dont shock me (can be grown)

sorry your all wrong, neither terminator, i robot or matrix used real brains to power the robots, this is closer to borgs which are actually cyborgs meaning they use both artificial and organic material, these are by no means robots which are autonomous arfticial beings.

also like to point out voyager and the other intrpid class ships in star trek used bio organic material to use as relays on-board their ships its also speculated that enterprise e uses this technology as its from a later date then voyager.

there are a couple of other shows that use cyborgs if you want to know what they are and more about them il be happy to go on with my geekness but il leave it at this

Wanna come see the new Star Trek movie with me?

i think the technology to create something realistic of this nature is not so far away but real life applications for it have ways to go, in other words dont put much care into it .