Hasta La Gadget!

At some point in the future, it’s going to be hard to just brush of those “computer-chip-in-my-brain” conspiracy theorists. That’s because researchers at the University of Wisconsin have found that neurons will gladly thread themselves through semiconductor tubes, opening up possibilities for interfacing these cells with computers.

Neurons, which make up the main part of our brain and nervous system, are composed of a main body and a long extension called an axon, which carries signals away from the body and towards other neurons. Graduate student Minrui Yu and colleagues found that, through creating a very small tube from layers of silicone and germanium, neurons would push their axons through the tube, leaving the cell’s main body, which is too large for the small opening, outside of it.

According to the scientists, this opens up the possibility of creating engineered networks of cells, planned and organized through these tubes, that can be studied through voltage sensors and other equipment. Right now, the group is exploring the possibility of using the tunnels to study diseases that affect the neurons, like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. However, the network of neurons that they have created might one day be useful for interfacing our nervous system with artificial limbs. This won’t be happening tomorrow, as there’s still an engineering gap between networking the cells and getting them to actually do something, but even inching towards a future of naturally-controlled prosthetics is certainly welcome news.

[via ScienceNews]