Japan's Cyborg Research Enters the Skull

RemyBR writes "Researchers at Osaka University are stepping up efforts to develop robotic body parts controlled by thought, by placing electrode sheets directly on the surface of the brain. The research marks Japan's first foray into invasive (i.e. requiring open-skull surgery) brain-machine interface research on human test subjects. The aim of the research is to develop real-time mind-controlled robotic limbs for the disabled. 'To date, the researchers have worked with four test subjects to record brain wave activity generated as they move their arms, elbows and fingers. Working with Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR), the researchers have developed a method for analyzing the brain waves to determine the subject's intended activity to an accuracy of greater than 80%.'"

Comments

Re:Surely there's an easier way...?

[What Would NPH Do]

It might be easier, but it won't give near as fine-grained control as this method would provide.

Re:Surely there's an easier way...?

[Anonymous Coward]

When their axons are damaged, neurons degenerate. The next neuron 'up the chain' is in the spinal cord, and these neurons are not well arranged - we wouldn't be able to tell which neurons were supposed to supply which muscles, and even if we could they are on the inside of the cord. The surface of the brain, however, is easily accessable. They can make recordings from the brain for different activities without knowing exactly which neurons are being activated - all we know is that, as a whole, the person wants muscle A to contract.

Re:I for one

[Eccles]

I already have a bionic wife. She's hearing-impaired, and has a cochlear implant. Currently the speech processor is still external, but you could imagine an internal one run off of the body's energy.

Occasionally I envy her ability to turn it off. But I really want bionic eyes with zoom, split-screen, and picture-taking ability.