- 14 August 2008

Scientists at the University of Reading have created a robot with a biological brain that is capable of steering around objects without any input from humans or computers.

The robot's brain contains rat brain cells which are now being taught to learn the appearance of objects they have seen before.

This would enable researchers to study the formation of memories and gain insights into diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Professor Kevin Warwick from the university's School of Systems Engineering said: 'This new research is tremendously exciting as firstly the biological brain controls its own moving robot body, and secondly it will enable us to investigate how the brain learns and memorises its experiences.

'This research will move our understanding forward of how brains work, and could have a profound effect on many areas of science and medicine.'

Dr Ben Whalley, from the university's School of Pharmacy, added that the robot could provide a 'really unique opportunity' to investigate the activity of individual brain cells in relation to complex behaviours.

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