Human brain cells grown in a laboratory have been used to play the video game Doom.
The work was carried out by Australian biotechnology company Cortical Labs, which developed a system combining living neurons with computer hardware. Around 200,000 human brain cells were grown from blood samples using induced pluripotent stem cell techniques and placed on a small chip.
The cells were connected to a computer through electrical signals. Information from the game – such as player status and enemy positions – was converted into patterns of stimulation that the neurons could respond to. Their activity was then translated back into actions within the game, including movement and shooting.
The system builds on earlier experiments in which similar neuron cultures were trained to play simpler games such as Pong (see BioNews 1163).
The Guardian reports the development and living human brain cells playing Doom can be viewed on YouTube.