Brain 'chips' in Pigs

I am not sure whether this needs to be in Animals, or Technology, or Health even?

What is the general feeling about Gertrude the pig, and two other pigs, having electronic 'chips' implanted in their brains to monitor brain signals for research for anything from human Dementia to Deafness?

This has all been paid for by billionaire Elom Musk's Neurolink.

I would imagine at some point they will have to damage Gertrude's brain and hearing to monitor deterioration?

Do you feel this is ethical - or not?


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-53956683

Re: Brain 'chips' in Pigs

I read about this the other day and didn't like it at all

Re: Brain 'chips' in Pigs

I think it is sick.

In what way does it work?

How does it benefit the pig?

Do we now have an all singing, all dancing pig that can debate the morals/ethics/arrogance of human beings who seem to think they have the right to play God?

Re: Brain 'chips' in Pigs

Sounds very sinister to me Mups, allthough l dont think Gertrude
will suffer any pain or discomfort from the proceedure as brains
apparently dont have any nerves, and so cant feel pain ?
Whether Gertrude will have any future problems will only be known
later?
However l wonder why Musk wants to do this at all, is he hoping to
gain control of individuals or what??
Very dodgy imo ?

Donkeyman! 🤔🤔

Re: Brain 'chips' in Pigs

Dont forget Musks target is humans Tabby ??

Donkeyman! 🤔🤔

Re: Brain 'chips' in Pigs

I love pigs .
Could ‘nt we use criminals instead ?

Re: Brain 'chips' in Pigs

I'm no expert ..only a laypig but I suppose it just depends on how you feel about any medical advances linked to animal experimentation.

I understand it's pretty much to do with the brain sending electrical impulses to facilitate walking, talking ..or physical mobility generally ?
Eventually it could become a sophisticated human-computer interface .. as opposed to a robotic AI ?
If you're clinical minded it could be dubbed a fascinating advance with fantastic potential.
Obviously not if you're a pig.

It made me wonder if they used animals when they originally tested heart pacemakers or stents?
In addition to drugs and pharmaceuticals I suppose animals get roped on for this kind of research too.

Re: Brain 'chips' in Pigs

Poor Gertrude there are plenty of 'humans' they could use for their experiments ...

Re: Brain 'chips' in Pigs

Cor ... could you imagine the Human Rights Brigade if they tried to do that? .... as nice as it is to think of it.

Re: Brain 'chips' in Pigs

We could but the millennials would be horrified.