Harvard Scientists Allow Humans To Control Rats With Their Minds

In the latest against science's long-standing grudge against rats, the boffins at Harvard Medical School have experimented with a system that allows the human mind to trigger actions in a rat's motor cortex, making the antics of the legendary Pied Piper of Hamelin one step closer to possible.

The test involved humans equipped with sensors who watched a screen that flashed in sync with their EEG brain patterns for visual stimulation. As soon as they turned their attentions to rat domination, they triggered an ultrasonic pulse that caused its tail to twitch.

Even within the rather niche research field that is Rat Control, these tests have their problems. For starters the poor dominated creature was in a state of heavy sedation, which likely affected the results, and the system with which they carry out these diabolical works is not yet sophisticated enough to match specific thoughts to corresponding actions.

The good folk at Harvard is refining the technology as we speak, however. We don't know why, but when it comes to science as cartoon supervillain as this, it's best just not ask questions and let them get on with it, lest you be the first victim of their mind-controlled rodent hordes.

Source: plos.org (PDF)