Cybernetics

Behavioral Conditioning (skewsme.com/behavior.html)

In 1948 [Claude] Shannon published his landmark A Mathematical Theory of Communication.
– Claude Shannon, "Father of Information Theory, Dies at 84," 26 Feb 2001.

It was from this background of communications research that information processing theory originated. In 1948 Norber Wiener at MIT coined the word cybernetics in his book Cybernetics: Or Control and Communication in the Animal and the Machine.
– Robert I. Watson, Sr., and Rand B. Evans, The Great Psychologists: A History of Psychological Thought, 5th ed. (New York: HarperCollins Publ., Inc., 1991), p. 623.

Brain Implants (skewsme.com/implants.html)

Direct neural control of complex machines is a long-term U.S. military goal. DARPA has a brain-machine interface program aimed at creating next-generation wireless interfaces between neural systems and, initially, prosthetics and other biomedical devices.
– Rodney Brooks, "Toward a Brain-Internet Link," WirelessNewsFactor, 10 Dec 2003.

[Jose] Delgado, in a series of experiments terrifying in their human potential, implanted electrodes in the skull of a bull. Waving a red cape, Delgado provoked the animal to charge. Then, with a signal emitted from a tiny hand-held radio transmitter, he made the beast turn aside in mid-lunge and trot docilely away.
– Alvin Toffler, Future Shock (Toronto: Bantam Books, 1988, 1970), p. 194.

He has [also] been able to "play" monkeys and cats like "little electronic toys" that yawn, hide, fight, play, mate and go to sleep on command.
– John A. Osmundsen, "'Matador' With a Radio Stops Wired Bull," The New York Times, 17 May 1965, CXIV(39,195), p. 20.

Scientists at the University of Tokyo are exploring ways that la cucaracha can become more socially redeeming. Using hardy American roaches, scientists remove their wings, insert electrodes in their antennae and affix a tiny backpack of electric circuits and batteries to their carapace. The electrodes prod them to turn left and right, go backward and forward. The plan is to equip them with minicameras or other sensory devices.
– "Peepers creepers; Research at the University of Tokyo is investigating ways in which cockroaches with the mini-cameras can be used to locate vermin or perhaps even survivors of earthquakes," Time, 27 Jan 1997, 149(4), p. 17.

Neural Computers (skewsme.com/wetware.html)

An array of rat brain cells has successfully flown a virtual F-22 fighter jet.… Enzymes were used to extract neurons from the motor cortex of mature rat embryos and cells were then seeded onto a grid of [60] gold electrodes patterned on a glass Petri dish.
– Jennifer Viegas (Discovery News), "Brain cells in a dish fly fighter plane," NewScientist.com, 26 Oct 2004 (retrieved: 17 July 2010, quote from previous version).

Computer wizards and biologists and neurologists around the world are trying to fabricate artificial brains, or neural networks, that can function on a human scale.
– Lee Dye, "Scientist Build a 'Brain' From Rat Cells," ABC News, 30 Oct 2004.

The ultimate aim is to put arrays of neurons into unmanned planes – or other dangerous situations – where only living brain cells can be relied upon to make the right decisions.
– Jennifer Viegas, "Brain cells."

"(The brain is) getting its network to the point where it's a live computation device."
– "UF scientist: 'Brain' in a dish acts as autopilot, living computer," University of Florida press release, 21 Oct 2004, at http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-10/uof-us102104.php; Original news release can be found at http://www.napa.ufl.edu/2004news/braindish.htm.

Cloning (skewsme.com/cloning.html)

Making a chicken squawk and bob like a quail might seem like the ultimate stupid pet trick, but by accomplishing this task by cross-species brain cell transplantation, brain researchers truly have something to crow about.
– Sean Henahan (Access Excellence), "Brain Exchange: Something to Crow About," 7 Mar 1997, at www.accessexcellence.org/WN/SUA09/chicken397.php (accessed: 30 September 2010).

Solid grafts inserted as whole pieces into the brain have…been seen to become reinnervated from the host brain in adult and developing recipients.
– F. H. Gage, P. Brundin, R. Strecker, S. B. Dunnett, O. Isacson and A. Bjorklund, "Intracerebral neuronal grafting in experimental animal models of age-related motor dysfunction," Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1988.

Subvocal Speech (skewsme.com/subvocal_speech.html)

Subvocal speech is silent, or sub-auditory, speech, such as when a person silently reads or talks to himself. Biological signals arise when reading or speaking to oneself with or without actual lip or facial movement. A person using the subvocal system thinks of phrases and talks to himself so quietly, it cannot be heard, but the tongue and vocal cords do receive speech signals from the brain.
– Chuck Jorgensen (Chief Scientist for Neuroengineering, NASA Ames Research Center), May 2004.

[As early as 1975, researchers have been testing] the feasibility of designing a close-coupled, two-way communication link between man and computer using biological information from muscles of the vocal apparatus and the electrical activity of the brain during overt and covert (verbal thinking) speech.
– Dr Lawrence L. Pinneo and Mr. D.J. Hall, Feasibility Study for the Design of Biocybernetic Communication System, Stanford Research Institute, 1975.