GoKawiilGoogle's fruit fly brain map gets repurposed to play Doom, Mario 64
Google Research and HHMI Janelia released MaleCNS v1.0, a dataset mapping over 166,000 neurons from a male fruit fly's brain and nervous system, built by converting millions of 2D images into 3D neural reconstructions. Developers quickly began using the model outside its intended scientific purpose, wiring its simulated neurons to control games like Doom and Super Mario 64, where sensory input from game frames drives neural activity that translates into player actions.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The project shows how open scientific datasets can spawn unexpected applications once made public, turning a neuroscience resource into an experimental platform for testing artificial neural learning. It also highlights growing interest in biologically grounded neural models as an alternative to conventional AI architectures, even in playful, non-scientific contexts like classic video games.
- Google and HHMI Janelia mapped a fruit fly's full brain and nervous system in the MaleCNS v1.0 dataset.
- Developers connected the roughly 166,000-neuron model to games like Doom and Super Mario 64.
- Game damage or events are used as reinforcement signals to see if the simulated neurons can learn behavior.
Doom Eternal (Nintendo Switch) — If reading about a simulated fly brain blasting demons makes you want to grab the controls yourself, Doom Eternal is the modern gold standard of the series that keeps showing up in bizarre 'it runs Doom' experiments. Fast, brutal, and endlessly replayable — and no connectome required.
See Doom Eternal (Nintendo Switch) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techspot.com — Skye Jacobs, 2026-09-09
Published there as: “Google mapped a fly's nervous system and developers are using it to play Doom”
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