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8 Paralyzed Patients Learn To Walk Again Using Virtual Reality (gizmodo.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the groundbreaking-studies dept.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: In a new study published in Scientific Reports, eight patients paralyzed with spinal cord injuries exhibited partial restoration of muscle control and sensations in their lower limbs following an extensive training regimen with non-invasive brain-controlled robotics and a virtual reality system. Developed by Duke University neuroscience Miguel Nicolelis and colleagues, the system tapped into the patients' own brain activity to simulate full control of their legs, causing the injured parts of their spinal cord to re-engage. Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) work by establishing direct communication between the brain and a computer, which then allows patients to control external devices with their thoughts, including prosthetic limbs or exoskeletons. Earlier this year, Nicolelis showed that it was possible for a monkey to control a wheelchair with its mind, though with an implanted brain chip. In the new experiment, the system non-invasively recorded hundreds of brain patterns emitted by the brain, collecting these motor commands from those signals, and then translating them into movements. During the year long experiment, Nicolelis and his team investigated the ways in which BMI-based training could influence the ability of paraplegics to walk using a brain-controlled exoskeleton. To augment this process, they turned to virtual reality, which assisted with visualization and mind-body awareness. While in a virtual reality environment, and when hooked up to the exoskeletons, the patients could see virtual representations of the own bodies, and even receive tactile feedback.

17 comments

  1. Teach me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can this technology teach me to wiggle my ears?

    1. Re:Teach me by Quirkz · · Score: 1

      You don't need vr for that.
      1. Wear glasses.
      2. Let the glasses slip down your nose a little.
      3. Will your ears to pull the glasses back up.

      At least, that's how I learned how to wiggle mine.

      Note: it's really more a scalp muscle that twitches the skin and tugs the ears along with it.

      --
      The Quirkz Handbook of Self-Improvement for People Who Are Already Pretty Okay
  2. Pandora by quenda · · Score: 1

    I hope the programmers put some floating hills and dragons in the VR simulation, just for fun.

    1. Re:Pandora by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah. Put in an army of Xenomorphs and creepy clowns coming to get the wearer.
      The experience is bound to unlock the innate potential of paralyzed people to move like they never moved before in their life.

  3. This is great news... by jpellino · · Score: 1

    for the people paralyzed by crashing into things while staring at their phones.

    --
    "Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
  4. This is a comment subject by m0hawk · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm a bit baffled by the lack of comments on this.

    Being able to move your leg (even a little bit) after being told you have lost all control of them forever is pretty damn amazing!

    I hope this is the start of a new scientific/medical field for people who have had spinal cord injuries.

    1. Re:This is a comment subject by fintux · · Score: 1

      I was wondering the exactly same thing - why there are so few comments. But perhaps this is just great news without causing too much controversy and there's not much to add?

      Though I was expecting at least on some speculation on what else could be achieved with something similar. Also, for me it is very curious that two-way neural function has been restored. Perhaps the neurons are secreting some neural growth factors or through some other mechanism causing also other neurons to restore their function. There is a constant flow of stimulus from the skin etc., but for some reason this does not seem to help in the neural pathway restoring. Or is it that the stimulus coming from both directions (brain and legs, for example) is the key to success? If so, perhaps results like this could be achieved also with some two-way neuron stimulation.

    2. Re:This is a comment subject by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OK, you asked for some (manufactured) controversy, so here are some starters for a debate.

      What's with the clickbait listicle title? Is /. trying to become the new [insert favourite hated website]?
      This is really the first step (pun!) towards the creation of human tanks, the next VR program will end up with people being able to control wheels, then tracks, then turrets, then the brains will be removed and added to machines....
      VR is about control of the populace, they will improve it to the point that we don't know whether we are in it or not and then they can start making us do what they want.
      Exoskeletons are the first step towards Terminator robots - SkyNet is here, something something Singularity.

    3. Re:This is a comment subject by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think maybe one of the reasons is that the summary doesn't make it super clear that we aren't just talking about people learning to control exoskeletons here.
      Some of the patients actually regained partial control of their own legs through their own spinal chord. That's a big deal. The article speculates on how this happens, but we actually don't know the mechanism yet. But still, regardless of how it works, it's a big improvement for the patients.

    4. Re:This is a comment subject by ausekilis · · Score: 1

      What's with the clickbait listicle title? Is /. trying to become the new foxnews.com/microsoft.com/facebook.com/oracle.com?

      I got nothing.

      This is really the first step (pun!) towards the creation of human tanks, the next VR program will end up with people being able to control wheels, then tracks, then turrets, then the brains will be removed and added to machines....

      Wait, you mean I can roll around on tank treads instead of using my own two legs like a sucker? Sign me up! Being one of the bosses from Super Smash T.V. is step #435 on my plan for world domination.

      VR is about control of the populace, they will improve it to the point that we don't know whether we are in it or not and then they can start making us do what they want.

      There is no spoon. Just keep taking that blue pill.

      Exoskeletons are the first step towards Terminator robots - SkyNet is here, something something Singularity.

      We're in luck. Stephen Colbert is already on the case there. Though I say I have to agree with one of this threatdowns. #5 is robots, #4 is bears, #3 is robots, #2 is bears and the number one threat to our nation is robot bears.

    5. Re:This is a comment subject by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was wondering the exactly same thing - why there are so few comments. But perhaps this is just great news without causing too much controversy and there's not much to add?

      Most people believe they sound more intelligent making negative comments about something or someone, or otherwise tearing them or their stance down.

      They don't sound at all smart, they just sound like bitter, ignorant fucks. But they think they do, and that skews the comments toward the negative.

      I for one think this is great news, as is the potential of many other new breakthroughs we're making. The world can be a scary place, but it is also full of marvels.

    6. Re:This is a comment subject by AC5398 · · Score: 1

      Maybe it takes time for the damage to heal. But a lack of stimulation to the nerves over that same time means brain doesn't re-discover the healed areas? The BMI is taking and using brain patterns, and as a result the brain is being made to re-discover and use the healed areas?

    7. Re:This is a comment subject by fintux · · Score: 1

      I think you're onto something here!

    8. Re:This is a comment subject by fintux · · Score: 1
      Argh, Slashdot should really have better notifications, I always miss replies to my posts. But going to the point...

      OK, you asked for some (manufactured) controversy, so here are some starters for a debate.

      I actually didn't ask for controversy, I was just wondering if the controversy is the thing that often spurs conversations, or what was the reason for the lack of conversation, because I find these news very interesting and also very good. The AC's comment below (https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=9516543&cid=52691593) offers an interesting view on this, in my opinion.

  5. catch22; rail-roads or development first by yes-but-no · · Score: 2

    Seems it's a classic case of chicken n egg problem. The hardware [neural net/connections in spinal cord/brain] gets generated only if there is use/ a use-case. But you can't use if you don't have feedback. So both producer n consumer have stalled. You create a seed disturbance (using VR to coax the logical part to ask for input.. ).. n this gets into a virtuous positive feedback loop. Producer starts churning and the cycle goes. You came out of a dead-lock. In fact a determined human with enormous will-power/passion should be able to kick start the cycle without the VR aid; but it's rare for a normal human to do it without the external aid. It's like believing you can fly and taking a leap off the face of a cliff

    1. Re:catch22; rail-roads or development first by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The trick to flying is throwing yourself at the ground and missing

  6. Explain this to me like I'm 5, please. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm having difficulty (even after RTFA) really understanding what's going on here. The material is mostly outside of my area, but I'm very interested due to a family member being afflicted similarly to the patients described.

    That said, it sounds really cool, and I'd love to see even the small improvements described in the article available to more people.