Digitizing the Brain

        I read an interesting article this morning about scientists from Tel Aviv University who created an artificial rat cerebellum. This part of the brain that controls many aspects of body movement, like timing and coordination. Researchers implanted a computer chip into an anesthetized rat whose cerebellum had been knocked out, and taught the rat how to blink in response to a specific tone. This is classical conditioning, to be sure, but it's a big step forward for both medicine and neuroscience research. Devices such as prosthetic limbs and cochlear implants are one-way communicators with the brain; either sending information to the brain or interpreting commands from it. This electronic cerebellum, however, is a two-way

        In the immediate future, a similar implant could be used on patients with damaged cerebellums (such as those with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, etc.) to correct movement impairments. In later years, this could lead to implants for stroke patients & people with genetic mental illnesses; schizophrenia, dementia, depression & ADHD. Circuitry supplementing neural tissue when necessary, or in healthy people, augmenting the memory span and cognitive capabilities of the brain.

      Cyborg humans? Bet your ass i'm signing up for that research study! In all seriousness, this is the kind of research that I'm going to be doing in the future, and it bears keeping track of. Mental problems, regardless of what caused them, are as bad as physical disabilities. I believe that funding for the cognitive sciences, especially neurobiology and neurochemistry, should be increased both from private and public institutions. The brain, not space, is the final frontier, and we've only just begun to map it.