Scientists are exploring the potential of using mini-brains, known as brain organoids, as processors in biocomputing systems. These pea-sized structures resemble early fetal human brains in their gene expression, cellular composition, and organization.

Brain organoids exhibit spontaneous activity, brain waves, and even sensory capabilities, making them highly developed processors. By connecting different types of mini-brains to digital sensors and output devices, researchers aim to create a super biocomputer capable of intelligence in a controlled environment, a story in the SingularityHub goes. 

The concept of organoid intelligence (OI) was introduced by a team from Johns Hopkins University. OI involves using brain organoids as surrogates for living human brain tissue, enabling the study of computational capabilities.

Playing Pong

An Australian company called Cortical Labs has, for example, successfully taught isolated neurons to play Pong using deep learning algorithms, which is a breakthrough in utilizing brain tissue for computational purposes. 

Its researchers employed human neural networks raised in a Biological Intelligence Operating System (biOS), which runs the simulation and sends information about their environment, with positive or negative feedback. It interfaces with the neurons directly. As they react, their impulses affect their digital world.

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Neurons are cultivated inside a nutrient rich solution, supplying them everything they need to be happy and healthy.

Their physical growth is across a silicon chip, which has a set of pins that send electrical impulses into the neural structure, and receive impulses back in return.

Taking inspiration from this achievement, a team at John Hopkins University questioned whether 3D mini-brains could serve as more advanced computational hardware.

To accelerate organoid intelligence, the team envisions several trajectories. Firstly, they aim to improve the scalability of mini-brain production. Microfluidic systems, acting as nurturing environments, need refinement to sustain mini-brains' growth.

The second trajectory involves decoding the signals and activities within mini-brains. This will help understand how neural circuits change as a result of specific electrical patterns, measuring altered gene expression and neural network connections. Machine learning algorithms can aid in analyzing the complex data generated during these experiments.

In the future, with enhanced mini-brains and measuring tools, the third trajectory involves testing more complex inputs and studying the impact on computational efficiency. Interconnecting different types of organoids, resembling different brain regions, could contribute to the development and exploration of neurocomputational theories of intelligence.

Ethical rules

There are ethical concerns about the potential consciousness of mini-brains as they become more structurally complex and exhibit primitive memory and about cell donation as mini-brains retain the genetic makeup of the donor, potentially leading to selection bias and limitations in neurodiversity.

Then, informed consent is vital in ensuring donors are aware of any neurological disorders discovered during research.

While a mini-brain-powered computer is still years away, the Johns Hopkins University team believes it's time to initiate interdisciplinary collaboration and consolidate technologies across various fields while engaging in ethical discussions.

A successful brain-computer integration for data processing will pave the way for a biological computing revolution, which could overcome the limitations of silicon-based computing and AI, with significant global implications.

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Mini-brains have already demonstrated their utility in studying neurodevelopmental disorders and testing drug treatments. Grown from induced pluripotent stem cells derived from a patient's skin cells, these organoids closely mimic the individual's genetic makeup and neural connections. They have even shown promise in restoring vision in rats when integrated with the host neurons.

One of the unspoken impacts of OI is the instant assimilation of information – or data transfer, which can lead to the appearance of a new super-intelligent race based human-machine symbiosis.