Lab-Grown Brain Cells Master Playing Doom
Researchers at Cortical Labs, a Melbourne-based start-up, have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by teaching lab-grown brain cells to play the iconic video game, Doom. This follows their earlier success where they trained neurons to play Pong, sparking curiosity about the capabilities of biological computing.
Lab-Grown Brain Cells Take on Doom
The firm, which launched its flagship product, the CL1, in March 2022, shared a video demonstrating the neural interactions within the game. The CL1 is a compact device housing approximately 200,000 living human neurons, integrated with a silicon chip and sustained with nutrients. This development positions the CL1 as the world’s first code-deployable biological computer.
Understanding the Technology
Dr. Brett Kagan, Chief Scientific Officer at Cortical Labs, noted the complexity of training the neurons for Doom compared to Pong. In Pong, the relationship between inputs and outputs is straightforward. Doom, however, introduces chaos with its 3D environment and diverse challenges.
- Neural Interaction: The team created an API allowing users to engage with the neurons in the CL1 cloud platform via simple Python commands.
- Game Mechanics: As the game progresses, electrical stimulation is mapped to the neurons, allowing them to react and make decisions based on in-game events.
As a result, neurons can control the character’s movements—shooting demons or dodging obstacles. Although their skills are akin to a novice player, the neurons are capable of basic learning, indicating a foundation for further development.
The Future of Bio-Computing
Cortical Labs envisions applications of this bio-computing technology across various fields, including medical research. The energy efficiency of neurons compared to traditional computing systems makes it a promising avenue for future developments.
Despite the triumph, ethical considerations surrounding the implications of biocomputation remain pertinent. While concerns about consciousness in lab-grown neurons have been raised, experts like Dr. Silvia Velasco emphasize the need for ongoing evaluation of these technologies.
Conclusion
The ability of lab-grown brain cells to play video games offers exciting possibilities for the future of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. As researchers continue to refine these technologies, they remain committed to ethical standards in biological research. The journey to improving these neural capacities is just beginning, and further advancements may unlock even more complex tasks beyond gaming.
