The crazy thing, is how easily it will be to scale this. I am a believer that this is intelligence, and that this LEGOtode has a consciousness within a similar order as a nematode. It's always fascinating to see patterns emerge from software like this. There can be little doubt that our brains act similarly in our youth. What is interesting, is that the results of one nematode's LEGOtode's learning process could be mapped upon another. LEGOtodes can skip childhood.
Scale it to what? Like, use this process with more neurally complex organisms? Implementing this was rate limited by the available technology, but mapping that motherfucker? mechanosm on my comment pointed me to the protocol (granted that was in 1986) but, while automation is our friend nowadays, it's not any less tedious. My experience is limited to mapping neurons using confocal in 50 micron sections, but that was not terribly efficient. Just physically linking the neurons is bitch in and of itself, but then you have to confirm each neuron type, response, etc. It's not as simple as "draw the roads on the map, and now you drive across the country." bad metaphor but whatever.
It really blows my mind. Basically they made Google Earth for a worm and the mapped structure took it from there. Here he is in your browser too: http://browser.openworm.org/
But if they skip "childhood," doesn't that eliminate the possibility for any potential variances that might occur? Any anomalies that might veer them in a new direction developmentally?