Image: China Daily
Hello, how do you do? Go ahead and shake hands with Jianhui the monkey, who controls a robotic hand through sensors implanted in its brain:
Zheng Xiaoxiang of the Brain-Computer Interface Research Team at Zhejiang University in Zijingang, China, and colleagues announced earlier this week that they had succeeded in capturing and deciphering the signals from the monkey's brain and interpreting them into the real-time robotic finger movements.
The two sensors implanted in Jianhui's brain monitor just 200 neurons in his motor cortex, Zheng says. However, this was enough to accurately interpret the monkey's movements and control the robotic hand.
So, scientists are finally making cyborg monkeys. What could possibly go wrong?
Previously on Neatorama: Monkey Thinks Robot into Action
I'm a little too obscure at times, I know.
I see how I miss interpreted your comment and I'm sorry for calling you narrow minded. I'm glad to see that that is not what you meant.
Also, the monkeys head is most definitely not separated from its body.
The monkey is probably treated better then any other monkey used in research. If anything this is because the cost of implanting the electrodes and, more importantly, the mapping of its neurons and customizing the software for its particular brain costs a lot of money and time. These scientists want this monkey alive and happy for as long as physically possible.
You obviously read my comment incorrectly. I didn't object to the experimentation itself, just the 1950's style vivisectionist feel they give it. I think they could have marketed it better. I thought my phrase horrifying banal nailed the impression on the head.
As for my comment to vet, you really read it wrong.
I took execption to the comment he made about raising his kids in a wheelchair. I had a relative who spent the last 20 years of his life in a wheelchair, and I felt his comment was insensitive. I think it's great that he's able to use prosthetics, but not everybody is.
Next time, read the comments more closely before you label people.
Also, I really have nothing against the (however unproportional) number of Dr.Who posts on this site
Wow this is horrible! I hate how these scientists and engineers think they are better then everyone else and can do what they want to animals. I dont care what kind of revolutionary technologies these experiments will help create. I agree with ted, the therapeutic technologies we have now are more then good enough for us, crutches and wheelchairs FTW! Why bother for prosthesis that could help someone paralyzed regain a natural range of motion, or help someone who has ALS keep their muscles strong and functioning.
Neatorama, please remove this image immediately, torturing monkeys, by implanting electronics similar to those used in humans, is not neat. Why dont you just post something nice like a story about a cake designer making Tardis shaped wedding cakes, or a new line of Dr. Who figurines please.
These kind of experiments are already being done in the US for years now (at Duke University of example), and the technologies that they are facilitating to be developed would be revolutionary for not only amputees, but victims of paralysis, cerebellar disease, lou gehrig's, etc...
ted, I have never really argued against someone on the internet before, but your comment to vet has to be the most narrow minded and most saddening things I have ever heard. Engineers and scientists are devoting their lives to help improve the quality of living for others and you simply dismiss this by suggesting we continue to be satisfied by technologies that are more then 100 years old... now that is horrendous!!
Not against improving life by science, but somebody needs to work on their marketing skills.
@vet: You do know it is possible for people in wheelchairs to live productive lives?
People should learn that abusing other creatures on our planet for self serving reasons is unacceptable.
Seems much less horrific than the cancer studies conducted here in the good ole united states. (You _do_ know how our anti-cancer drugs and treatments are tested, right?)
It even seems much less horrific than cosmetics testing and with significantly better societal benefits.
I can't argue that the poor beast enjoyed it but there are much worse places to be born a monkey.
i'm saddened that so many people would see me never walk again in order to prevent monkeys from being subjected to very moderate testing.
humans undergo similar tests and there are no long term effects and the implanting procedure is very safe and sterile.
but it's okay i'll just raise my three children from a the confines of a wheelchair.
Hey people calling for this to be taken down... if you don't see it, I guess it didn't happen, huh?
http://uploads3.wikipaintings.org/images/william-hogarth/the-reward-of-cruelty-1751.jpg
We're thankful for the "cruelty" of past scientists, even dependent on the outcome of that cruelty, but wholly ungrateful to those continuing the work under far more humane conditions and without human subjects. These scientists are trying to do good for amputees, trying to make a world of difference in their life. To call them sick torturers because they sedated a monkey and used a device to read its brain impulses is to be without any sense. Get a grip.
How pointless and disgusting.