Marquette Students Use Cyborg Cockroaches to Study Neuroscience

Bluetooth-equipped roaches teach biology students about the nervous system

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:11am

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A bold, abstract painting in soft blues, greens, and grays depicting sweeping geometric shapes and concentric circles, representing the complex neurological signals and pathways involved in controlling the movement of a cockroach.Marquette University students use innovative Bluetooth-enabled 'cyborg cockroaches' to gain hands-on experience in the principles of neuroscience and nervous system function.Today in Milwaukee

Students at Marquette University in Milwaukee are using cyborg cockroaches equipped with Bluetooth backpacks to learn about neuroscience. The Roboroach technology, created by Backyard Brains, allows students to briefly control the left and right movement of the bugs by stimulating their antenna nerves. While some students were initially hesitant, the hands-on experience is seen as invaluable for those pursuing health professions.

Why it matters

The Roboroach technology uses the same principles as electronic devices like prosthetic limbs and cochlear implants, giving students practical experience with neuroscience concepts they may apply in their future careers as doctors, dentists, nurses, and other health professionals.

The details

In the upper-level biology course, students and staff utilize the Roboroach, a product created by Midwest company Backyard Brains that specializes in educational science tools. The Roboroach taps into how neurons communicate through electrical currents, with Bluetooth backpacks stimulating the antenna nerves of live cockroaches. Students can then control the left and right movement of the bugs through a phone app.

  • The Roboroach experiment is part of an ongoing upper-level biology course at Marquette University.

The players

Chelsea Cook

An assistant professor in biological sciences at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Oliver Lee

A sophomore student in the Marquette University biology course using the Roboroach technology.

Monica Stinson-Hernandez

A student in the Marquette University biology course who initially expressed hesitation about using cockroaches but found the hands-on experience valuable.

Backyard Brains

A Midwest company that specializes in educational science tools and lessons, including the Roboroach product used at Marquette University.

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What they’re saying

“The Roboroach is an activity that we can do in neuroscience to try to understand how the nervous system actually creates behavior.”

— Chelsea Cook, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences

“I was definitely surprised. You know, I don't have much experience with cockroaches. I was kind of excited, though. Seems like a fun time.”

— Oliver Lee, Student

“So, I hate roaches. I hate bugs. I feel like getting the hands-on experience and doing the little tiny details with the wires and forceps really help me in the future, either in research or if I decide to go to grad school.”

— Monica Stinson-Hernandez, Student

What’s next

The Roboroach experiment will continue to be a part of the upper-level biology course at Marquette University, giving future students the opportunity to learn about neuroscience through this innovative hands-on approach.

The takeaway

The Roboroach technology used at Marquette University provides biology students with practical experience in neuroscience, using the same principles as advanced medical devices. This hands-on learning helps prepare them for future careers in health professions, demonstrating how innovative teaching methods can make complex scientific concepts more accessible and engaging.