Editing Guided rat (section)

==Ethics==
Concerns have been raised by animal rights groups about the use of animals in this context, particularly due to a concern about the removal of autonomy from an independent creature. For example, a spokesman of the [[Dr Hadwen Trust]], a group funding alternatives to animal research in medicine, has said that the experiments are an "appalling example of how the human species instrumentalizes other species."<ref name="BBC_20020501">{{cite news |last=Whitehouse |first=David |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1961798.stm |title=Here come the ratbots |work=BBC News |date=May 1, 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509040138/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1961798.stm |archive-date=2019-05-09 |access-date=2019-06-18 }}</ref>

Researchers tend to liken the training mechanism of the robo-rat to standard [[operant conditioning]] techniques. Talwar himself has acknowledged the ethical issues apparent in the development of the robo-rat, but points out that the research meets standards for animal treatment laid down by the [[National Institute of Health]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Graham-Rowe |first=Duncan |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2237-robo-rat-controlled-by-brain-electrodes/ |title="Robo-rat" controlled by brain electrodes |work=New Scientist |date=2002-04-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616001135/https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn2237-robo-rat-controlled-by-brain-electrodes/ |archive-date=2019-06-16 |access-date=2019-06-18 }}</ref> Moreover, the researchers emphasize that the animals are trained, not coerced, into particular behaviors. Because the rats are encouraged to act via the reward of pleasure, not muscularly compelled to behave in a particular manner, their behavior under MFB stimulation is likened to a carrot-and-stick model of encouraged behavior versus a system of [[Brainwashing|mind control]]. It seems unlikely that the rats could be persuaded to knowingly risk their lives even with this stimulation. "Our animals were completely happy and treated well," Talwar stated.<ref name="BBC_20020501"/>

The technology is reminiscent of experiments performed in 1965 by [[José Manuel Rodríguez Delgado|Dr. Jose Delgado]], a controversial scientist who was able to pacify a charging bull via electrodes fitted in its brain.  He was also said to control cats and monkeys like "electronic toys."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wireheading.com/matador.html|title=‘Matador’ with a Radio Stops Wired Bull; Modified Behaviour in Animals the Subject of Brain Study |date=17 May 1965 |first=John A. |last=Osmundsen |work=New York Times <!-- paywalled link: https://www.nytimes.com/1965/05/17/archives/matador-with-a-radio-stops-wired-bull-modified-behavior-in-animals.html -->}}</ref> Doctor [[Robert Galbraith Heath]] also placed electrodes deep into the brains of patients and wrote hundreds of medical papers on his work.