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Yes—but “playing” means that cultured neurons were connected to a simulated Pong-like game through an electrical interface, not that a brain watched a screen or understood a video game. In a 2022 study, researchers reported that the system showed apparent learning under those engineered conditions. It did not demonstrate consciousness or the ability to play ordinary commercial games.
What DishBrain did
DishBrain connected cultured neuronal networks to a simulated Pong environment using a high-density multielectrode array. Electrical stimulation encoded information about the game state; the researchers recorded neural activity and translated it into paddle actions. That created a feedback loop between the simulated game and the living cells. The cells neither saw a display nor handled a controller. The paper’s methods and results describe this arrangement; UCL’s 13 October 2022 explanation offers an accessible account.
The experiment used human cortical neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, alongside primary cortical cells from embryonic mice. UCL reported a total of 800,000 cells in the experiment. That number refers to the experimental cell population, not a complete brain.
What the researchers reported about learning
The study authors reported apparent learning within five minutes of real-time gameplay in the conditions they tested. They also reported that further experiments showed the importance of structured, closed-loop feedback for learning over time. These are results from a particular laboratory setup—not a universal learning rate for neurons, and not evidence that cultured cells can play arbitrary games. PubMed’s record of the 2022 Neuron paper includes its abstract and bibliographic details.
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The result is best described as learning-like or adaptive behavior in a tightly constrained task. The system received an engineered representation of the game and produced activity that could move a paddle. That is not the same as human understanding of Pong.
Does this mean the cells were conscious?
No. The paper’s title uses “sentience,” and its authors propose a definition concerned with responsiveness to sensory impressions through adaptive internal processes. That is the authors’ interpretive framing, not a demonstration of subjective experience. The experiment measured neural activity and task behavior; it did not establish that the cultures had feelings, awareness, or human-like thought.
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UCL professor Karl Friston described the central idea as “The beautiful and pioneering aspect of this work rests on equipping the neurons with sensations – the feedback – and crucially the ability to act on their world.” In context, “sensations” refers to the engineered electrical feedback in the experiment.
What the experiment may—and may not—be useful for
DishBrain was a proof of concept for studying how neuronal cultures respond in a closed-loop environment. The authors and UCL discussed possible future uses such as studying neural function and investigating drugs. Those are potential applications, not results established by the Pong task. The study did not validate a clinical treatment or drug-screening service, nor show that the platform can replace animal research.
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There is also a relevant commercial disclosure: PubMed’s record states that lead author Brett J. Kagan was a Cortical Labs employee; Kagan and Andy C. Kitchen were shareholders and held interests in patents related to the publication; and two authors received Cortical Labs funding for related work. That context does not by itself determine whether the findings are sound, but it matters when considering claims about future products.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How DishBrain relates to current Cortical Labs offerings
Cortical Labs now describes the CL1 as a code-deployable biological-computing platform for research and development, and Cortical Cloud as a way to access CL1 systems remotely. These are company descriptions of specialized research offerings, not independent confirmation of product performance. The company’s CL1 page and Cortical Cloud page describe the offerings.
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The company’s developer guide also documents a local SDK simulator. It cautions that simulator data does not respond to stimulation and must not be used to draw experimental conclusions. The simulator is therefore not equivalent to interacting with living neuronal cultures. The sources cited here do not establish consumer availability, pricing, or affiliate or referral terms.
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| Aspect | DishBrain study | Current platform context |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A published experiment connecting cultured neurons to simulated Pong through electrical stimulation and recording. | CL1 hardware and Cortical Cloud remote access, as described by Cortical Labs. |
| How it is accessed | In-lab cell cultures and a custom electrophysiology setup. | Company-described hardware and remote-access service; consumer availability is not stated in the cited company materials. |
| Evidence described here | Peer-reviewed study findings and UCL’s account of the experiment. | Company product descriptions; these are not independent validation of advertised performance. |
| What has been shown | Reported learning-like behavior in a constrained Pong task. | Research and development platform offerings; broader future research applications remain proposals. |
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