"Neuro-Chips" Add Silicon to Brain Cells

Enhancing the brain with computer chips is no longer solely in the realm of science fiction. A team of Italian researchers has developed a "neuro-chip" that can be implanted in the brain and interact directly with neurons.

The 1-mm chip contains 16,000 transistors, and can both stimulate and receive information from surrounding brain cells. Currently, the technology is too immature and unstable for use in humans, but it might one day be used to correct neurological disorders such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease. In the shorter term, the chip could be used to help test the effects of new drugs.

Source: LiveScience.com