GOOGLE MAPS FLY BRAIN, MODDERS TEACH IT DOOM

The fruit fly brain connectome represents a major milestone in neuroscience, mapping approximately 3,000 neurons and their 130,000 synaptic connections. The detailed neural architecture has become a playground for creative modders experimenting with simulated fly cognition. Among documented applications, researchers have programmed the digital brain to play Doom, Minecraft, and Beat Saber, as well as perform practical tasks like parallel parking, trading Bitcoin, and cutting doner kebab. The project demonstrates how complete connectome maps can be used to understand and simulate biological neural networks. The fruit fly brain, while far simpler than human brains, offers valuable insights into how neural circuits process information and control behavior. The research was conducted by Google in collaboration with other institutions, with findings now enabling broader experimentation into artificial intelligence modeled on biological systems.