“Naturally, all remote-controlled rat technology is exciting, but this looks like they are now ready to be put into production and used. I can only assume that the military “rat patrols” are going to be high-status, elite units admired by and envied by the K9 corps.
The most interesting point is that the rats are not under direct control–that is, they are not directly lighting up a “turn right” region of the brain. Rather, they are using a “turn-right” whisker stimulation reflex, along with conventional but more efficient (due to direct brain stimulation) operant conditioning.”
-Greg
Remote-controlled rats to sniff out explosives