This rat thing was mentioned here in the States on Science Friday [http://www.sciencefriday.com/] last Friday on National Public Radio. By way of contrast, they also mentioned the lamprey-controlled robots of yore [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1043000/1043001.stm].
You can find related science news and some background info here:
<b><a href="http://www.neuroprosthesis.org/blogger.html">NeuroProsthesis News</A></b>