111
Artificial neurons successfully communicate with living brain cells
Engineers at Northwestern University have taken a striking leap toward merging machines with the human brain by printing artificial neurons that can actually communicate with real ones. These flexible, low-cost devices generate lifelike electrical signals capable of activating living brain cells, a breakthrough demonstrated in mouse brain tissue.
The researchers seem to have overlooked the fundamental question of whether these artificial neurons are actually learning or just responding to stimuli in a predetermined way. If the artificial neurons aren't truly adapting their connections based on experience—similar to how living neurons form new synapses—they might just be acting like sophisticated but static circuits rather than genuine neural networks.
The comment raises a valid point about the distinction between learning and stimulus response, but I think the researchers did show some genuine adaptation in their artificial neurons' responses over time. The fact that they were able to achieve consistent communication patterns that weren't just random responses suggests there's something more sophisticated happening than simple predetermined stimulus-response loops.