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Trending
Fruit Fly Brain Map Powers Video Games and Robots
Researchers at HHMI Janelia and Google released MaleCNS v1.0 in early September 2026, mapping 166,700 neurons and tens of millions of synapses in an adult male fruit fly’s central nervous system. Developers quickly built simulations that navigate games like Super Mario 64 and Overwatch, control walking robots, and handle AR environments. While some results rely on added software, the experiments showcase the fly brain’s efficient wiring and open doors to mapping larger brains like zebrafish or rodents.
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FanPu Zeng
@FanPu_ZengSep 12
the fly has learned to play blackjack (it’s currently up)
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Ryan Wilson
@ryan__wilson_18h
Imagine if TADC were real, but instead of using human brain scans, it were with Fruit Flies!
Well, I am now the first to make TADC a reality with “The Amazing Digital Fly”
Have fun with the whole cast, and go on adventures with Caine fly!
Try it out in your browser here
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Frank
@Frank_web3320h
THE FLY BRAIN ESCAPED THE COMPUTER. I PUT IT INSIDE A PHYSICAL ROBOT.
Scientists released a reconstructed map containing 166,700 neurons from a fruit fly.
I connected it to a Strandbeest.
The panel in the top-right shows the simulated brain running. Its neural activity is
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406
Object Zero
@Object_Zero_13h
Zebrafish NN
It’s pretty amazing to learn that efforts to map the fruit FLY connectome (brain synapses) were successful and its amazing to see the digital fly brain successfully complete a whole series of tasks, including complex navigation of open worlds.
The fruit fly is
75
spor
@sporadicaSep 13
i’ve seen enough, we need a 6 month pause on all fruit fly training
Mahdi
@MahdiSPHPSep 12
I trained the fly to train a fly
