An article written by Dan Vergano explains how new technologies show how the brain creates movement. This was published through National Geographic on November 19th, 2014. A pneumatically powered exoskeleton aids rhesus macaque monkeys in walking! This is controlled by a computer which reads signals coming from an implant in the monkey’s motor cortex consisting of electrodes.

Presenting this “brain-machine” interface is a neuroscientist from Duke University is Miguel Nicolelis. His findings from the “Walk Again Project” were presented at the Society for Neuroscience meeting. In his research, eight paralyzed patients walked used a robotic exoskeleton similar to what the monkeys used. These machines fool the brain.
Rhesus monkeys are able to steer a wheelchair with the electrodes just by using thought solely. The monkeys were quick at wheelchair driving in order to get a grape.
The research goal is to develop implants that pick up clearer signals from thoughts in order to control future prosthetics better. Not only have the patients been able to walk with an exoskeleton, but they were also noted by Nicolelis to have improved heart health, digestion and muscle tone.
How are these electrodes able to develop a mechanical skeleton?
With the width of human hair like bristles on a toothbrush send many signals to a central processing unit, copying into commands that are coherent. These commands are sent to a computer which coordinates the complex motions in order to walk. These commands move joints and limbs!
These machines offer extremely important tools about understanding the brain. Robotics are surely coming along nicely, but still have a lot more research and testing to go.
Works Cited:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141118-exoskeleton-neuroscience-brain-monkey-wheelchair-science/
Photograph by Robert Clark, National Geographic Creative
It is so amazing how new technology has risen so quickly. I remember reading the article in National Geographic when it came out. I could not wait to see the paraplegic person deliver the opening kick at the World Cup in Brazil.
ReplyDeleteI found a TED talk the other day that is relatable to your blog:
https://www.ted.com/talks/gregoire_courtine_the_paralyzed_rat_that_walked#t-835483
It's about "combining drugs, electrical stimulation and a robot — that could re-awaken the neural pathways and help the body learn again to move on its own." Quite interesting.
Coincidentally, I came across an article the other day describing a piece of brain-computer interface technology from University of California Irvine that has successfully allowed a paraplegic man to walk again: http://news.uci.edu/feature/to-walk-again/
ReplyDeleteAs opposed to using electrodes, this equipment involves taking an EEG of the individual's brain while asking him to think about moving his legs. These signals are then processed through a computer algorithm, which in turn stimulates areas of the legs to move.
It's great to see so much progress going into restoring the ability to walk in amputated and paraplegic patients. These studies look promising.
This is incredible. Who would have known that us humans could create a technology like this. If we are able to create such useful technology like this, imagine the endless amount of other things we can do and other problems we can fix in this world. This opens the door to endless possibilities. This article has inspired me to research this topic a little bit more and look at the other amazing technology that we are working on. I understand that this still needs improvement, but it is a huge step in the right direction. This just shows how powerful the brain truly is.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting read! Two days ago, the Society for Neuroscience in Chicago presented about a project at Case Western Reserve University that was very similar to this. Scientists there were able to convey brain signals into electrodes placed inside the body. This is significant because it is paving a way for wireless brain signal system technologies where brain signals can be transmitted "through the air" to electrodes elsewhere inside the body. The team was able to use an implant in a paralyzed man's brain and electrodes sewn into his arm to allow him to move his hand again. Similarly, electrodes were placed within the motor cortex and connected to computers that would read the signals. Wires were inserted into the patients hand and impulses were sent to those electrodes using Functional Electrical Stimulation.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.technologyreview.com/news/542581/paralyzed-mans-arm-wired-to-receive-brain-signals/#comments
I think it is fascinating that we can help restore movement to individuals with the use of robotics and exoskeletons and found it interesting that scientists are looking at ways to help patients control their own limbs and using electrodes sewn within the body too.