A robot controlled by cells from a rat brain could help in the treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.

The robot helps to explain how our memories work and how the brain stores specific pieces of data.

Its only means of control is from its own biological brain and has no additional input from a human or a computer yet it can drive its own wheels and move around without hitting objects.

Researchers, led by Dr Ben Whalley from Reading University, are now working towards getting the robot to learn by applying different signals as it moves. It should remember these signals, allowing scientists to assess how the memory works.

Professor Kevin Warwick from Reading University, said: "This new research is tremendously exciting as firstly the biological brain controls its own moving robot body and secondly it will enable us to investigate how the brain learns and memorises its experiences.

"This research will move our understanding forward of how brains work, and could have a profound effect on many areas of science and medicine."

Dr Ben Whalley from the School of Pharmacy, said: "One of the fundamental questions that scientists are facing today is how we link the activity of individual neurons with the complex behaviours that we see in whole organisms."

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