bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

quizIds

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Global Post

Researchers have successfully given lab rats a "sixth sense."
Duke University researchers implanted a device in the rats' brains that allowed them to sense infrared light.
The study placed electrodes attached to an infrared detector in the brains of the rats.
The electrodes were placed in an area of the brain responsible for touch, reported Science Recorder.
The experiments saw the rats put in a chamber with three infrared light sources.

They taught the rats to choose which light was switched on by poking their nose on the right hole.
If they were successful they were given a sip of water as a reward.
As infrared light is normally invisible to the rats, the implanted infrared sensors helped the rats choose where the light was coming from.
After a month, the rats were able to associate the infrared light with the signals in their brains, said the Guardian.
The rats were then able to find the infrared light in order to receive a reward.
The research suggests that one day someone with a damaged visual cortex could one day regain their site.
"We could create devices sensitive to any physical energy," said study author Miguel Nicolelis, reported BBC.
"It could be magnetic fields, radio waves, or ultrasound. We chose infrared initially because it didn't interfere with our electrophysiological recordings."
The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.


Lab rats given 'sixth sense' after brain implants

Duke University researchers implanted a device in the rats' brains that allowed them to sense infrared light. File photo

News

World