Jun09
Robot Monkeys?
Posted at 11:33 AM | Permalink
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Comments (9)
If you were watching the news last week, you probably caught the story about vivisectors at the University of Pittsburgh who—to hear the media report it—have performed "groundbreaking" work that will help people with paralyzing conditions gain more control over their lives.
So what did these miracle workers do? They sawed into the skulls of monkeys, implanted tiny electrodes in the monkeys' brains, and trained the monkeys to perform certain tasks. In similar studies, experimenters "train" monkeys by depriving them of water for extended periods of time so that out of thirsty desperation, the monkeys will comply.
The electrodes in the monkeys' brains were attached to a computer, and the computer was attached to a robotic arm. The vivisectors restrained the monkeys' arms and had the animals use their thoughts to move the robotic arm to their mouths so that they could get the food.
Now, this may sound pretty extraordinary. The thing is that the experiments had already been performed on humans by researchers at Brown University nearly two years ago! Of course, in the case of the human studies, the people weren't taken from their families and imprisoned alone in tiny metal and concrete cages, where they could only take a single step in any direction; they weren't kept thirsty and hungry so that they could be "trained"; and they weren't deprived of the feeling of the ground beneath their feet, the warmth of the sun on their backs, the wind in their faces, and everything else that is natural and important to them.
It would seem that the lives of the monkeys used in the University of Pittsburgh's experiments are worth so little to the vivisectors that they continue to abuse and torment them, just to duplicate concepts already proved using humans.
PETA primate specialist Dr. Debra Durham, who has worked in primate labs and knows firsthand how ugly these places are, minces no words when describing what happens to monkeys in these hellholes:
It probably comes as no surprise that monkeys traumatized in labs suffer physically and psychologically. Studies have shown that roughly 90 percent of monkeys in labs have serious psychological symptoms, while another 15 to 25 percent engage in some form of self-mutilation. … For monkeys, laboratories are their Guantanamo.
—Grace
Posted by Grace Freidan, Researcher
TAGGED:
monkeys university of pittsburgh robot arm
Comments
This is white collar crime, which is a problem in the university system.
These people are stealing grant money to do things that they know are not needed.
This is wasted money.
The ambition here is money! They fill their bank accounts with this abused grant money, and profit personally, as well as cook up material for tenure possiblities.
The corruption in university systems is enormous.
Posted by: kelly | June 9, 2008 12:37 PM
Just reading the headline recently on Robot Monkeys I did not proceed any further as I thought they were talking about actual robots. It never even occurred to me that something so cruel as to make actual living monkeys into robots was taking place and that it is being done legally in the USA. This is terrible abuse that should never even be considered much less implemented. Shame on those who knowingly are involved. My hope if for people to become more compassionate and see that animals feel pain love and fear just like humans and all life is equally important. Humans do not matter more.
Posted by: Bette Johnson | June 9, 2008 12:48 PM
I was angered when I saw this all over the news last week. Newscasters were smiling and saying how "cool" this is and "just look at the cute little guys". Nobody seemed to be giving a thought to the life of these monkeys(notice the metal restraints and probes jammed into brains) . The main experimenter was as jolly as can be. Today is psychology class we were reading this long article on drug tests. The test subjects were of course rats who were put in different situations to see which ones would overdose on meth and what would happen when addict rats were taken off of the meth. The scientists were so bemused and casual and had no regard for their "test subjects".Even worse we watched video clips of the famed baby monkey mother deprivation tests and testing the break down of hope in dogs. National Geographic recently had a small blurb in its magazine with a cute mouse, it talked about mice specially "designed" for specific tests. People really make me sick at times. I feel like the world is going to hell in a hand basket. How much more stress can the globe take.
Posted by: Annalena | June 9, 2008 12:54 PM
I saw this news on CTV last week with an actual photo of the monkey restrained and miserable. The article said the arms of the monkey were "gently" restrained!
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080528/monkey_arms_080528/20080528/
WTF! Do people actually believe this BS?
Can anyone see the sadness and desperation on the monkey's face?
Some people, like vivisectors, are scum and those who see news like this and celebrate it are even worse.
Posted by: NT | June 9, 2008 05:00 PM
Now I know it's true:
There are only two good things to come out of Pittsburgh: The Penguins (hockey team) and Andy Warhol...and Andy is dead...
:(
Posted by: Tamara | June 9, 2008 05:25 PM
This is just plain disgusting. We humans are the worst animals in the world! We shouldn't be allowed to do this. I beleive the people doing this need to be taught how to respect animals. If they still dont beleive their actions are wrong, we should allow rhem to experience the difficulties. Such cruel and heartless people! Here we are trying to make the world a betterplace, and others create more unnecessary troubles!
Posted by: Khushi | June 9, 2008 06:06 PM
Thanks Grace. This is outrageous! That's why Peta is so great and necessary. It exposes what really goes on behind the lab doors.
I remember a stand-up comedian whose whole bit was about how stupid Peta was for defending lab animals for "just getting their hair shampooed, wearing lipstick, etc". The crowd roared with laughter.
If only it were so benign!! Try having the chemicals from the products rubbed in wounded skin and eyes with no tear-ducts to wash the crap away!!
Not nearly so funny!
Posted by: lynda downie | June 10, 2008 12:22 AM
Being the same species as these people is so depressing. Everywhere you turn some poor animal is being tortured for our sake. It is time we really stand up for these creatures. We share the planet, not own it.
Posted by: Tim Olah | June 11, 2008 11:04 AM
I live in the Pittsburgh area and would like to know what can be done to stop this cruel torture of monkeys. I get emails from Care2 that circulate letters to Congress I think a petition should be started.
Posted by: Margaret Diegelman | June 13, 2008 01:25 PM