Researchers from CNRS and other institutions extracted a brain slice from a deceased donor, connected it to a robotic hand, and after three days of training, the slice learned to play piano notes. The experiment showed that 62.5% of the slices learned at least two notes, with memory lasting 7 to 17 days. This research offers a new tool for neuroscience but awaits peer review.
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French scientists connected slices of deceased human brains to a robotic hand, and within three days, the slices learned to mimic musical notes. This preprint study demonstrates the plasticity of human neural tissue, but it remains far from truly understanding consciousness and learning.
Researchers from institutions including the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) announced an experiment: they extracted a small piece of cortex from deceased donors, sliced it into 300-micrometer-thick sections, and cultured them on microelectrode arrays. The brain slices remained alive, with neurons firing continuously. This system was named OPAB (post-mortem adult brain slice explant culture).
The researchers selected three electrodes as motor electrodes, connected to three fingers of a robotic hand. When the electrodes fired, the corresponding fingers pressed piano keys, producing notes. A microphone picked up the sound and converted it into electrical signals, which were sent back to three sensory electrodes on the brain slice, forming a sensory-motor closed loop.
This article is primarily based on DeepTech's report on the preprint paper, which has not been peer-reviewed. Experimental data (such as the 62.5% success rate and 7-17 day memory) come from the research team's claims and are source_claim. The 2024 Brain Stimulation paper is mentioned as background but without specific details.
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