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Brain Interface Lets Monkeys Control Prosthetic Limbs

himicos was one of many readers to point out one recent success of scientists working to develop working brain-machine interfaces, writing "A team at the university of Pittsburgh has finally advanced a 2002 technology enough for use in prosthetic limbs, the targeted application all along. Training computer models to the firing patterns of the neurons in the parts of the brain that control motion, they are able to project the intentions of a monkey to a robotic arm, which follows the will of the animal. The sad thing about the articles is that the beauty of the mathematics used to create and train the models is totally ignored." Reader phpmysqldev adds a link to coverage at the BBC, and writes "This of course brings significant hope to amputees and other other people with physical disabilities." (Note that this research has been going on for quite some time.)

4 of 208 comments (clear)

  1. And just like that... by oahazmatt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Brain Interface Lets Monkeys Control Prosthetic Limbs And just like that, a SciFi channel original movie is conceived.
    --
    Those who believe the Internet is private,
    find their privates are on the Internet.
  2. hope to amputees by Paul+Rose · · Score: 5, Funny

    >>This of course brings significant hope to amputees
    As long as they don't mind carrying a monkey to control their prosthetic arm...

  3. Not impressed. by JoeD · · Score: 5, Funny

    Get back to me when they can use the robotic arm to fling poo.

  4. Re:Monkey's opinion by nategoose · · Score: 5, Funny

    He/she might be thinking "I wish this @#$@ing robot arm thing would quit stuffing those @%#$ed marshmallows in my mouth!"