Brain cells have particularly distinctive sounds when they are played through a speaker (there are many recordings available online). Some sound like angry bees, going ZZ-ZZZ-ZZZZ-ZZ-ZZ. Others sound like a dying wasp, making a zzzZZZZZZZZZzzz sound, then falling silent before suddenly coming back to life. Listening in to the ongoing neuronal chatter is a sobering and amazing experience. You know you are listening in to a brain cell close to the electrode tip, and it is in conversation with its neighbours near and far: you are experiencing something – hearing something – normally inaccessible
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