It reads DVD- and CD-ROMs, and its MPEG decoder interface connected seamlessly to the ATI video card.

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Electrodes picked up the brain activity of the first rat, the "encoder", and fed it over the internet into the brain of its partner, the "decoder", which had the same levers in its cage but received no visual cues about which one to press.

CNN: Do telepathic rats advent biologic computers?

In Britain, BSkyB , getting ready for the launch of its 200-channel digital satellite services, ordered 1m decoder boxes.

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The decoder rat had the same types of levers in its chamber, but it did not receive any visual cue indicating which lever it should press to obtain a reward.

BBC: One rat brain 'talks' to another using electronic link

"We saw that when the decoder rat committed an error, the encoder basically changed both its brain function and behaviour to make it easier for its partner to get it right, " he said.

CNN: Do telepathic rats advent biologic computers?

Once this rat pressed the correct lever, its brain activity was delivered as electrical stimulation into the brain of the second rat - designated the "decoder".

BBC: One rat brain 'talks' to another using electronic link

Researchers also found that rewarding the encoder alongside the decoder created a virtuous loop, as treating the first rat for a job well done focused its attention and improved the signal strength.

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In the second experiment, a scan of the decoder's brain showed that it began to represent the encoder's whiskers as well as its own whiskers in the tactile cortex.

CNN: Do telepathic rats advent biologic computers?