Robot controlled by human brain cells

A human brain organoid grown on a chip has been shown to control a robot that can be instructed to perform basic tasks.

Brain organoids are 3D, simplified models of the human brain, grown from stem cells. By growing brain organoids on an electrode chip, Chinese researchers have developed a new brain-computer interface system that can power a robot and follow simple instructions, such as avoiding obstacles or gripping objects.

'The brain-computer interface on a chip is a technology that uses an in-vitro-cultured "brain" – such as brain organoids – coupled with an electrode chip to achieve information interaction with the outside world through encoding and decoding and stimulation-feedback,' said Professor Ming Dong, from the Haihe Laboratory for Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Computer Integration at Tiajin University, China.

Neurons (nerve cells) communicate through electrical signals. By pairing the organoid with an electrode, these electrical signals can then be used to power the robot and send signals that achieve specific functions, such as grasping objects.

The organoid-robot model is only able to respond to basic electrical and sensory stimuli, but not visual inputs. An advantage of neuron-enhanced biocomputers is that 'learning' occurs faster than for AI machine learning chips, and consumes much less power.

The ability of the organoid-on-a-chip to power a robot and respond to electrical inputs has the potential to raise concerns about the potential for consciousness or intelligence in these models. However, the researchers make clear that these are very simplified models of specific brain regions that lack many cell types found in the human brain, and can only respond to very specific stimuli.

Brain-computer interfaces have received widespread attention, as they may, in future, allow people to control external devices with their thoughts. This has potential applications in aiding people with disabilities.

Despite the formation of extensive neural networks, organoids do not yet reach the complexity of the adult central nervous system. To address this issue, the team from Tiajinin University treated organoids with low-intensity ultrasound. Compared to untreated organoids, the treated organoids underwent improved maturation when grafted into the brains of adult mice with injuries in the somatosensory cortex. Their results were published in Brain.

'The transplant of human brain organoids into living brains is a novel method for advancing organoid development and function. Organoid grafts have a host-derived functional vasculature system and exhibit advanced maturation,' the researchers said.