University of Calgary succeeds in building a neurochip out of silicon, human brain cells

Scientists at the University of Calgary have teamed up with the National Research Council Canada to place a network of human brain cells on a microchip — in effect creating a (tiny) brain on a chip. Formerly, when scientists wanted to observe brain cells, they are able to only monitor one or two simultaneously, but with this new neurochip, large groups of cells could be placed on the chip and observed in detail, as they go about their business \” networking and performing automatic, large-scale drug screening for varied brain dysfunctions,\” consistent with PhysOrg. But that\’s only the start! The sort of advance could someday end in neurochip implants for driving artificial limbs, treatments for strokes and brain trauma, and more. The Globe and Mail even mentions the chance that living neurons would be combined with silicon circuits to create an \” organic computer.\” From that point it\’s only an issue of time before you\’re jacking into cyberspace together with your Dixie Flatline ROM.