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VIDEO: Top panel, from top to bottom: Run, licking and brain activity during training. Animals had to increase activity in control region 1 (R1, blue) compared to control region 2 (R2,. view more
Credit: Sainsbury Wellcome Centre
We know that the brain can direct thoughts, but how this is achieved is difficult to determine. Researchers at the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre have devised a brain machine interface (BMI) that allows mice to learn to guide a cursor using only their brain activity. By monitoring this mouse-controlled mouse moving to a target location to receive a reward, the researchers were able to study how the brain represents intentional control.