Human brain cells on a chip learn to play Doom

"Australian biotech outfit Cortical Labs has shown off its CL1 "biological computer" controlling the classic 1993 shooter using roughly 200,000 living human neurons grown on a microelectrode array. Software translates what's happening in the game into electrical signals that the cells can respond to."

"When something appears on the left side of the screen, electrodes zap the corresponding region of the neural culture. The cells fire back their own electrical spikes, which the system interprets as actions such as moving, turning, or firing Doomguy's weapon."

"The idea is that cells gradually adapt their activity in response to feedback, a form of reinforcement learning. Cortical Labs says the neurons can eventually locate enemies, move around the environment, and blast demons - though "occasionally dying a lot" is still very much part of the gameplay loop."

Cortical Labs demonstrated a biological computer using approximately 200,000 living human neurons grown on a silicon chip to play Doom. The neurons sit in a nutrient bath on a microelectrode array where electrodes stimulate them and record their responses. Game events convert into electrical signals sent to the neural culture, with cells responding through electrical spikes that the system interprets as player actions like movement and firing. The neurons gradually adapt through reinforcement learning, eventually learning to locate enemies and navigate the environment. This builds on previous work where cultured neurons learned to play Pong by sensing ball position and controlling a paddle.

Read at Theregister