• Question: Can we replace damaged brain parts with computational devices? As we have replaced body parts with a 3D printer can this be possible?

    Asked by The Ge Ni U S to Andrew, Jade, Jessica, Kevin, Lynn on 22 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Jess Wade

      Jess Wade answered on 22 Jun 2015:

      Our brain isn’t like bones, but is instead a living organ. When we use a 3D printer we put in the ink cartridges, and it works by melting the ink cartridges then printing layers of whatever pattern we create on the computer. I think it will be a very, very long time before we get ‘brain’ ink cartridges in the stationers! Every single part of the brain is a complicated network of neurons and fibres, so expecting a printer to sort out all of the layering would be a big ask indeed!

    • Photo: Kevin Honeychurch

      Kevin Honeychurch answered on 23 Jun 2015:

      I agree with Jessica. The brain is I think too complex. Its scope is way above our present computers.

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