Brain Implants Help Paralyzed Monkeys Get a Grip

sciencehabit writes "Spinal cord injuries cause paralysis because they sever crucial communication links between the brain and the muscles that move limbs. A new study with monkeys demonstrates a way to re-establish those connections. By implanting electrodes in a movement control center in the brain and wiring them up to electrodes attached to muscles in the arm, researchers restored movement to monkeys with a temporarily paralyzed hand. The work is the latest promising development in the burgeoning field of neuroprosthetics."

Comments

I propose

[busyqth]

I think it would be a more interesting experiment to implant electrodes in one person's brain and wire them up to electrodes in another person's arm.

Re:I propose

[Anonymous Coward]

I propose we investigate who would win in a fight between these monkeys and their cyborg brethren.

It may seem gratuitous, but think of how this could benefit all the disabled people who in the future will face the tough decision of whether to fight off the encroaching zombie hordes with a biological arm from the flesh vats, or with a prosthetic chainsaw.

Re:I propose

[Anonymous Coward]

I see busyqth's experiment was a success!

Great news.

[gstrickler]

Does it work for politicians too? Most of them need to get a grip, and need a brain implant or transplant.

Re:Great news.

[rainmouse]

Does it work for politicians too? Most of them need to get a grip, and need a brain implant or transplant.

Considering it likely the doctors had to first paralyse a large quantity of monkeys, it would be nice if the experiment could be recreated using politicians.

The researchers soon regretted their actions

[Algae_94]

The monkeys were immediately able to fling shit at them once they regained movement in their hands.

Only Works on Male Monkeys

[xstonedogx]

A pair of implants could inspire me to move my hands again too.

I've posted this before, but since it is so crazy

[GoodNewsJimDotCom]

So we find you can control limbs with wires. How long until we control limbs that are wireless? Can a man control 8 robotic arms and be like Dr. Octopus? Can we hook electrodes to our brain, wifi to it, and wifi to a monkey, then we can control a monkey with our minds? All Twilight Zone plot lines aside, this research is really awesome. It gives hope to everyone paralyzed that they'll be able to regain movement again. This is the stuff that money should be thrown at hand over fist.

Re:We are doomed!

[Neil Boekend]

A thousands hands on normal length arms connected to a single monkey would resemble a ball.

Re:George Bush

[gd2shoe]

Open your eyes. We are still suffering from the stupidity and greed of both parties.

(They're in nearly equal proportion. People can disagree about which is worse, but it's comparing landfills to sewage treatment; neither odor is agreeable.)