A rat lies motionless on a sterile, spotless table.

[The "It" Parade.]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16305299

It is alive, but heavily sedated.

Closer inspection reveals that this is no ordinary rodent.

Electrodes are being used to stimulate its brain, creating waveform readings on a nearby computer screen.

The rat is part of a research project at Israel's Tel Aviv University psychology department.

Scientists are attempting to replace part of this and other rats' brains with digital equipment, effectively turning them into cyborgs.

Anti-vivisection campaigners have described the tests as "grotesque" but the researchers claim the work will eventually help them make repairs to what is possibly the world's most complex computer - the human brain.