Brain WiFi Reverses Leg Paralysis

An implant that beams instructions out of the brain has been used to restore movement in paralysed primates.

19:17 13 November 2016

Scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology were able to reverse leg paralysis in primates by sending the instructions straight from the brain to the nerves controlling leg movement, bypassing the injury in the process.  

 

They said that the technology could be used for human trials within a decade. 

 

Paralysis is caused by injuries to the spinal cord that block the electrical signals from the brain to the rest of the body. In the study, the injury was bypassed with a chip implanted into the part of the monkey’s brain that controls movement. The chip was designed to read the spikes of electrical activity that serves as instructions for moving the legs and send them to a nearby computer. 

 

The results showed the monkeys regained some control of their paralysed leg within six days and could walk in a straight line on a treadmill. 

 

Dr Gregoire Courtine, one of the researchers, said: "This is the first time that a neurotechnology has restored locomotion in primates."

 

"The movement was close to normal for the basic walking pattern, but so far we have not been able to test the ability to steer."