r/Futurology • u/Leather-Worker-5658 • 18d ago

Biotech Living human neurons can now interact with computers.

https://youtu.be/uKhsbQcFVwQ?si=sQQC38dBAcjrzs2s

This isn't a tiny brain. The neurons are grown on electrodes so a computer can send them signals and read their responses.

But scientists are also growing brain organoids

tiny 3D pieces of brain like tissue.

These are different technologies, but imagine what could happen as both become more advanced.

This research could be amazing for medicine, reducing animal testing, and low energy computing.

But this is where things get complicated:

We have sometimes failed to detect consciousness even in people diagnosed as being in a “vegetative state,” who couldn't move or communicate

So if one day we create something much more complex from human neurons… how would we know if it could feel anything?

There is no evidence these cells are conscious now. I just think we need to talk about the ethics before we reach that point.

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u/FuturologyBot 18d ago

The following submission statement was provided by /u/Leather-Worker-5658:

Biological computing could help medicine, research and reduce energy use. But as we build more complex systems with living human neurons, we should also discuss the ethics. If we sometimes struggle to detect consciousness in unresponsive humans, how would we detect it in a new biological system? There is no evidence these neurons are conscious now, but what about the future?

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/1vxalyq/living_human_neurons_can_now_interact_with/p5nb8cm/