Brain, Spine Implants Give Clearer Communication To Human As It Let Paralyzed Monkey Walk Again

A new study might give way for a richer communication with people with paralysis. The same study allowed a monkey to walk again.

Researchers at Stanford University opt on their new research making John Scalzi's science fiction novel "Lock In." Their goal is to use a computer for brain implants to cure paralysis of people so they can live a meaningful life, Engadget reported.

It is the idea of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI) that would likely to help people with paralysis to communicate easily and understandably. Researchers expect that participants who will use the implant will be able to communicate faster and more accurate.

Eventually, with the use of BrainGate Neutral Interface System to be surgically placed inside the patient's head, the sufferers can get communication easy. 100 electrodes composed the tiny chips of the device used for the brain implant that will penetrate the brain and gives massive improvements on the individual nerve cells.

Three people with Gehrig's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were placed into the subject of the research. Luckily, with only little bit of training, the participants were seen improving and were able to type eight words per minute with an increasing texting speeds.

A similar study was reported last November, though the participants were different. In a report published by IEEE Spectrum, it has long been considered impossible to be able to walk or even move a paralyzed leg. But, in a new experiment using monkeys, this fixed concept in mind had been abolished.

Researchers used two paralyzed monkeys to prove their study. With the use of same electrodes implanted in the brain of the monkeys. The Brain Spine Interface or BSI could bypass the injured part of the spinal cord allowing the monkeys to move naturally.

David Borton was surprised to see the success of the brain and spine implant to animals. That's why with full effort, they manage to use the idea with human subjects.

Although, the level of improvement is still under monitoring. But this gives many interests to researchers to further study the brain implant and let the people with paralysis communicate and walk again.