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The BrainGate2 implant is an electrode system that translates thought into text into usefulness. With the aid of this implant, three people paralyzed from the bottom to the rear use unmodified tablets to browse the Internet, write messages to friends and stream music.
Source: PC Press
Photo: Thinkstock
These findings can help improve the lives of people who are paralyzed or have a neurological disease.
BrainGate 2 is based on a series of micro-electrodes implanted in the brain, capable of decoding the neural signals related to the intention of moving the limbs in real time.
The three people who participated in this experiment had implants placed on part of their motor cortex (part of the brain that helps control movement).
The implant detected neuronal activity that showed that they thought they were moving the cursor on the screen. These nerve signals are then sent to the virtual mio that is associated with the tablet bean. The participants were able to perform routine digital tasks, the search and streaming of music using only their thoughts. A test participant even played a digital piano. The researchers said: "The tablet has become my second nature, very intuitive."
The technology itself is not new because it has existed for several years. What is interesting for this particular iteration is that it allows users to navigate in totally unmodified devices, taken from the store shelf, without any modification or special feature. This discovery shows that technology can actually be used to restore the independence of mobility and communication for those with limited control without the need for expensive equipment.
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