Rat neuron cells on silicon are the brains behind a new robot—a breakthrough that may lead to better computer chips. The “hybrot” is in essence a rat-controlled robot, and marks the first instance in which cultured neurons have been used to control a robotic mechanism.

The device contains thousands of rat neuron cells on a silicon chip that’s embedded with 60 electrodes connected to an amplifier. The electrical signals that the cells fire are picked up by the electrodes, which then send the amplified signal into a computer. The computer, in turn, wirelessly relays the data to the robot. The robot then manifests this neuronal activity with physical motion, each of its movements a direct result of neurons talking to neurons. The robot also sends information back to the cells, which are actually developing.

According to Rolf Pfeifer, professor of computer science at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, this work can have implications for constructing self-healing computer systems.

News tip: Walter Purvis