Robo-Rats

Robo-rats are just ordinary rats — with something extra. Scientists have implanted electrodes both into their sensor-motoric brain parts and into their lust-rewarding brain parts. It empowers the scientists to manipulate rat behavior via a remote control that sends tiny electric signals to the rat’s brain. The scientists can let the rat turn left, or right or straight on. They can also let the rat climb a ladder. They even gently force — without any force — the rat to do things they naturally dislike; jumping from substantial heights, for instance. DARPA, the research leg of the USA Ministry of Defense is highly interested. Future robo-rats will detect people under debris after an earthquake, will detonate landmines, will map tunnel caves.

Animal protection organizations protest. But have lost the case as the research leader argued convincingly that during the experiments the rats have the time of their lives: The consequence of electronic signals titillating their brains.

It is going to work with people too. Once again DARPA is interested. One in ten USA soldiers returning from the Middle East suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Suppose a tiny chip would have been implanted in their brains that tempers the tsunami of electric brain signals when they are under fire. Wouldn’t that prevent lots of sorrow afterwards? Hadassah Hospital, Jerusalem gives patients suffering from acute depression a…