California researchers are attempting to increase mobility and communication of severely paralysed humans by researching the monkey brain.
A team headed by Richard Andersen at the California Institute of Technology is monitoring cognitive signals in the parietal reach region of the brain by implanting small electrodes into monkeys. The parietal reach region is located above the ears and transmits the desire to direct an action without actually committing it. During Andersen’s experiments monkeys were taught how to move a cursor on the screen by transmitting the thought without movement.
The aim of the study is to translate the technology for humans suffering paralysis and motor skills. A degree of research has already been completed on the use of information from neuron-coded physical movements for prosthetic devices. Researchers also hope the technology, once completed, will give greater insight into understanding other brain activity such as the desire to move one’s arm. The invention may even eliminate the necessity of letter boards and spelling devices.
Great advances have been made in the course of the experiment, the intended direction of a test subject can now be predicted by computers with up to 67% accuracy. Researcher’s are optimistic the technology may be ready for human trial within the next few years. Andersen’s findings will be published in the American journal Science later this week.