RESEARCHERS: Monkeys Use Mind to Move Objects

Monday, October 13, 2003

(11:22 AM ET) (15:22 GMT)

Reuters

"There is certainly a great deal of science and engineering to be done to develop this technology and to create systems that can be used safely in humans. However, the results so far lead us to believe that these brain-machine interfaces hold enormous promise for restoring function to paralyzed people."

WASHINGTON -- Reuters
Dr. Miguel Nicolelis knew he had nailed it when the monkey stopped using her arm to play the computer game.

An implanted device had allowed the monkey to control the game using only her thoughts, Nicolelis and colleagues report in the Public Library of Science Biology journal on Monday.

And changes in the way the monkey's brain cells worked suggested the brain was physically adjusting to the device, they reported in the new online science journal.

Nicolelis hopes the device will eventually allow paralyzed patients to regain some ability to use their upper bodies -- virtually, if not physically.

"The monkey suddenly realized that she didn't need to move her arm at all," Nicolelis said in a statement.

"Her arm muscles went completely quiet, she kept the arm at her side and she controlled the robot arm using only her brain and visual feedback."

Three years ago, Nicolelis and colleagues at Duke University in North Carolina reported that they had allowed a monkey to move a robotic arm using only her thoughts and implanted electrodes. But the monkey continued to move her arm.

In the latest experiment, they said two monkeys figured out what was happening and played a computer game using thoughts alone.

* Recognizing brain patterns

* Learning to control cursor

* Could help humans

(More: CNN.com / Science & Space)
2003 © Reuters, Ltd.

Dan