Data Stored in Live Neurons

Light Licker writes "Israeli researchers have created artificial memories for the first time — in a tangle of neurons growing in the lab. Using a specific chemical they could add to the pattern of impulses in a network of the nerve cells. 'Many believe that complex patterns of neuronal firing are templates for memory, which the brain uses when storing information. Imprinting such "memories" on artificial neural networks provides a potential way to develop cyborg chips, says Ben-Jacob. These would be useful for monitoring biological systems like the brain and blood since, being human, they would respond to the same chemicals.' The new pattern lasted two days — good enough for biological RAM?"

Obligatory

[Evets (629327)]

I for one welcome our neuronal impulse driven overlords.

But officer

[eggman9713 (714915)]

I don't smoke weed, I don't know how that got in my car. How many of us have been in such a situation? Now with little biotech magic, you can calmly and confidently (not to mention truthfully) say that the munchkins did it.

Minor problem

[Zironic (1112127)]

Then there's just the minor problem of figuring out what pattern means what. Personally I think I prefer the idea of connecting people to external computerized memory then messing with the neural one. Brainwashing anyone?

Re:

[andydread (758754)]

Another problem? TFA said the neurons will react like humans. Humans try to forget memories they don't like What if lab brain (the collection of neurons) decide that it doesn't like the memories that have been "washed" on to it.

Thanks for the memories...

[kcbrown (7426)]

The new pattern lasted two days -- good enough for biological RAM?

Yeah, I'd say so...I can't remember anything for more than a few minutes, let alone two whole days!

What day did you say it is again?

Re:

[by Anonymous Coward]

Hi, I'm Tom!

A billion years too late

[edwardpickman (965122)]

We call them brains and I'm sure Mother Nature took out a patent on them.

Pain

[Ignis Flatus (689403)]

taught new firing patterns to a network of neurons by targeting specific points of the network with a chemical called picrotoxin. The new patterns lasted for up to two days without harming the pre-existing firing patterns

or maybe they just caused an injury to the network that took 2 days to heal

LIke a read-only memory

[mangu (126918)]

maybe they just caused an injury to the network that took 2 days to heal

You used a word with negative connotations, but that's how many electronic memory devices work. They start with a full set of connections and are programmed by deleting all the unwanted connections.

In old-style PROMs (programmable read-only memories) the connections were metallic fuses that were burned by a pulse of current. Then came EPROMs (eraseable programmable read-only memories) where the connections could be restored by bathing

RIAA

[revengebomber (1080189)]

Shit, now the MAFIAA can sue me for remembering something, since it can be recovered two days later.

Storage?

[by Anonymous Coward]

Does that mean i can use my girlfriend as an external storage?

First non-SF use for the word "cyborg"?

[blind biker (1066130)]

And quite pertinent, too.

On a very much related tangent, I hope this sort of research will lead to better interfaces between electronic "input devices" like digital cameras and microphones, and the brain itself. That would greatly improve the condition of blind and deaf people.

Re:First non-SF use for the word "cyborg"?

[wframe9109 (899486)]

When early man first discovered that a wheel could roll down a hill, how much closer did it bring them to modern day technology used in cars?

Answer: Not very, if at all.

I invite you to sit in on a class discussing this topic (memory); we know so little it's almost entertaining.

Re:

[slashdotmsiriv (922939)]

"When early man first discovered that a wheel could roll down a hill, how much closer did it bring them to modern day technology used in cars?"

When the early 20th century man first discovered controlled flight, how much closer did it bring them to the Boeing 747's and the Apollo program?
When early 20th century man first discovered computational models, how much closer did it bring them to .... and so on ...

Your argument is invalid

Re:

[Plutonite (999141)]

Bit far off, no? They just managed to use chemical compounds to control neuron firing patters on some isolated cells. [typical slashdot skepticism coming] They probably can't even control the patterns they imprinted.

Also, how the hell can you connect the camera to the "wetware" inside the brain(Zonk's word, never heard the term wetware before)? Wireless power? Ouch.

On a sidenote:they say they used "picrotoxin". It has the "toxin" in it. Is that a nice thing?
 

Now I need a USB cable for my brain

[bl8n8r (649187)]

I could use it as a big jump drive.

Re:

[It'sYerMam (762418)]

I can't wait to be able to grep for where I left my keys.

Hardware?

[DynaSoar (714234)]

Why is this under hardware? We may not have a wetware section, but surely this is a science article.

Now, this story relates a neat hack. They were able to account for the background of spontaneous firing and find their signal amid the noise. Very clever. Can't say as I see it being good for much other than having shown it can be done and supporting the Hebbian neural network theory. But then, science is about finding stuff out. This they did. Even if nothing practical comes of it, it's a win for the science

Whose Brains?

[Doc Ruby (173196)]

The article speculates a lot about potential applications in human tissue. But what species' neurons are in the experimental network? And why don't these very superficial science articles reporting on a real journal entry actually link to the article they're discussing?

Nemory Lab

[Doc Ruby (173196)]

I wonder what the artificial memory seemed like to the critter in the jar. Probably something like "whoa, I'm tripping!"

The Schneidics [uncyclopedia.org] Institute needs one of these labs for nemory [uncyclopedia.org] experiments. Or maybe it needs not to have one, and never know the difference.

Woo hoo! Time to take that vacation to Mars!

[mozumder (178398)]

I've always wanted to go there, but just couldn't afford a real vacation. Now I can finally visit Mars.

Now, what sort of options are available for the memory implant's "ego trip"?

Re:

[by Anonymous Coward]

ICQ
PHP
RSA (in use, right?)
USB flash storage devices (see M-Systems)
Water sprinklers
Cherry tomatoes
Epilady hair remover
Many, many new medicines (see Teva)
Various kinds of defense weapons

Should I go on?

Re:Yes, but

[revengebomber (1080189)]

"The new pattern lasted two days"

Sorry...

Well, it's more uptime than a Windows system.

Re:FYI

[Metasquares (555685)]

Yes and no. Individual improvements tend to be incremental because everyone wants to get a lot of stuff published (this applies to about all of science nowadays). On the other hand, there still are the occasional breakthroughs, and overall the field is moving fairly rapidly. The research tends to sound really interesting, which leads to "hype" when the news agencies attempt to translate the messages in publications for the general public. The papers themselves (and papers in general, really) tend to be cautiously optimistic, citing potential problems, limitations, and improvements for the research in the conclusion.

Re:

[Ino (68074)]

You can almost see Neo:
    - Wow, I know sendmail now!
Morpheus: - Show me.

And then the PFY calling the others:
Morpheus is spamming Neo...

QMail - on the other hand....

Ino!~