Scientists created a "superbrain" of connected minds.
Scientists created a "superbrain" of connected minds. Photo:
AFP/Nature/Katie Zhuang  Creating a "superbrain" of connected
minds, scientists have enabled a rat to help a fellow rodent
while the animals were a continent apart but connected through
brain electrodes.  With electrodes imbedded in its cortex, a rat
in a research institute in Natal, Brazil sent signals via the
internet to a counterpart at a university lab in Durham, North
Carolina, US, helping the second animal to get a reward.  The
exploit opens up the prospect of linking brains among animals to
create an "organic computer", said Brazilian neurobiologist
Miguel Nicolelis.  It also helps the quest to empower patients
stricken with paralysis or locked-in syndrome, he said.  "We
established a functional linkage between two brains. We created
a superbrain that comprises two brains," said Nicolelis.
Published in the journal Scientific Reports, Nicolelis' team
gave basic training to thirsty rats, w