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Neural Implant To Give Control of Paralyzed Arms
An anonymous reader writes "A neural implant that connects to muscle-stimulating electrodes has given monkeys the ability to grasp a ball and drop it into a hole even though the monkey's arm has been anesthetized. The approach is another step towards 'rewiring' the brains and limbs of paralyzed patients. The research, presented at the Society for Neuroscience conference in Chicago this week, uses a technique called functional electrical stimulation (FES), in which implanted electrodes deliver electrical current to trigger muscle contractions, providing a way to reconnect this loop."
With the large number of individuals in the world with amputated limbs, this is nice to see. If only more time and research went into things like this instead of bureaucratic endeavors. Can we change our government to "Scientific Method for the People, By the People"?
'We are trying to prove ourselves wrong as quickly as possible, because only in that way can we find progress.' RPF
...not useful for PALS (Person(s) with ALS) where there is no longer a neuromuscular junction (NMJ).
Not a complaint; just an observation before someone gets excited for Professor Hawking.
I have something in common with Stephen Hawking...
Now I won't be able to blame Carpal Tunnel anymore. Thanks Science ...thanks a lot!
L'esperienza de questa dolce vita (The experience of this sweet life) - Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy
Rawhide: Dr. Banzai is using a laser to vaporize a pineal tumor without damaging the parthogenital plate. A subcutaneous microphone will allow the patient to transmit verbal instructions to his own brain. Observer: Like, "raise my left arm"? Rawhide: Or "throw the harpoon." People are gonna come from all over. This boy's an Eskimo.
Before you give it a good spanking.
I'd have thought that would be counterproductive ...
If the geiger counter does not click, the coffee, she is not thick.
I am against neural implants. They just don't feel as good as natural nerves.
Whether ignoring it or ignorant of it, the present research is not "another step towards 'rewiring' the brains and limbs of paralyzed patients", it's a step back from that very use.
Christopher Reeve credited FES with helping to regain what function and sensation he did.
Thew earliest use I know of was the case presented on 60 Minutes where a paralyzed woman had EMG signals produced by a bicycle-like device that would have been called FES had it had a name that long ago. These were recorded and later played back amplified into her muscles to artificially produce walking. She told Dan Rather than she would walk again within a year, and would walk down the aisle to get married. He reported on CBS Evening News only a month later that she had done exactly that. This was probably around 30 years ago because the stimulation/recording/playback was controlled by a shiny new Apple II computer.
"I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B
... for a science fair project in seventh grade. My plan was to amputate a frog's legs, then replace them with electromechanical legs that had electrodes hooked up to its nerves.
I am glad I never carried about my dastardly plan. When I think of it now my mind reels with the thought of the suffering that poor creature would have endured.
But I did learn a great deal about frog anatomy as well as the histories of biology and medicine. My mother encouraged this project as her father was a surgeon.
has given monkeys the ability ...
If you have a paralyzed limb and are on a budget, train the monkeys to fetch things for you instead. Problem solved, and you even got bonus company!
Just in time for http://i.imgur.com/cKc4n.gif
That guys never going to get his double-leg amputee now.
Kudos to the monkey. If I found myself in a tiny box and without feeling in my arm, the last thing on my mind would be earning rewards.
Achievement points, maybe.
OSHI..PETA INVASION!
A good education is a bit like a STD - it makes you unsuitable for a lot of jobs and gives you a desire to spread it.
But can he love?!?
...It is extremely cruel to animals......Why they don't test this stupid cyborg fu___ing devices on humans?
When did humans stop being animals themselves? People like you make me laugh, you have no idea the number of products we(and yes "we' includes "you" ) use that are animal derived or animal tested. You think that the products you buy that say not tested on animals actually are not tested on animals? Only some of them. The others are tested by companies who specialize in animals testing so the company that makes your product doesn't have to test it themselves. It's just one of the legalese loopholes that companies utilize. To quote a comedian I heard years ago. If shocking a monkey is going to save a human life, I've got two things to say. "Red is positive. Black is negative." I'm outta here, off to eat a rare steak, while wearing my baby seal fur slippers...
Seriously, that's the first thing this made me think of, when combined with the 'sensing' robot designs.
It looks like we'll have Star Wars-universe limbs well before we have the energy weapons and light-speed travel.
And we hate you.