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Brain Chip Approved For Paralysis Research

Posted by Hemos on from the try-it-out dept.

dalillama writes "The BBC is reporting that tests are underway for the clinical trials of the "Brain Gate" computer chip, placed in the brains of paralysis patients. They hope the chips will map out nerve impulses which are sent to limbs, so that they can then be translated into computer code and sent to future artificial limbs. " Thanks to Robert Brooks for pointing out this closely related piece.

5 of 183 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Farscape.... by MsGeek · · Score: 2, Informative

    He just got Farscape confused with Red Dwarf. Kryton is the servant droid that lives aboard the Red Dwarf with Lister, Rimmer and Cat.

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    Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied.
  2. Wires by iantri · · Score: 3, Informative
    This is an odd sort of question, but I've always wondered.. these implants with wires dangling out of them (like those experimental ones to make blind people see, for example).. what happpens if you snag them on something sharp?

    Does it go "RIIIP!" and a chunk of your skin is torn off the side of your head? ;)

  3. You will not be the same person by Teclis · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is very cool in a sense. I'd love to play around poking things in my brain to see what happens, but what if you break something. Your brain is not a hard drive which you can just reformat and start fresh. You are a sum of your life experiences and that makes you unique. Even the tiny characteristics in your brain makes you unique.

    If you get brain damage, the fact is, you are not the same person you were before. Think about frontal lobotomies. You may not know the difference and chances are no one else might notice, but the person you are now will cease to exist if you get braindamage.

    Braindamage scares the bejezus out of me, but I'm not about to wear a helmet 24/7. Point is, If they stick something in your brain, there must be SOME damage, if not minimal. This will change who you are. I know my aunt had brain surgery to remove a tumer and she acts VERY differently now.

    If you are going to get an implant for no reason at all, consider the risk. For people in which it can mean a better life, great idea.

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    Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what's right. --Isaac Asimov
  4. Re:Im as dumb as they come by GreyPoopon · · Score: 2, Informative
    Nervecells are the only ones which do not gwo back. But here stem cell research might bring a breaktrough!

    There has already been successful research in this area both with and without stem cells. As just one example, see this article.

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    GreyPoopon
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    Why is it I can write insightful comments but can't come up with a clever signature?

  5. It's more grey than that. by Thinkit4 · · Score: 2, Informative

    You don't "cease" to exist from any sort of brain damage. Do you disappear from a night of drinking? Nerve cells die naturally--do you cease to exist when you get old? But there is a risk. I view the paralyzed as test subjects--if this really does work, I would jump at the chance (as a non-paralyzed person) to do it.

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    -I am an elective eunuch.