TITLE
Breakthrough brain chip gives paralyzed man ability to hold cup, play Guitar Hero again
DESCRIPTION
A remarkable development has occurred in that scientists have been able to implant a chip into a man’s brain, and by concentrating he has been able to send electrical impulses to a computer that activates a sleeve on his arm that can transmit signals to his hand. “The study marks the first time a paralyzed patient has been able to regain movement in his own body — a total of six different wrist and hand motions — by using signals that originated within the brain.” (There is a video available both here in WordPress and at the Post article.)
SOURCE
Washington Post, April 13, 2016, By Ariana Eunjung Cha
Original Source: Bouton, C.E. and others (2016), Restoring cortical control of functional movement in a human with quadriplegia, Nature, doi:10.1038/nature17435.
LINK TO RESOURCE
(Tiny URL) http://tinyurl.com/jj3beqy
VIDEO LINK
CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
•Ask for a summary explanation of how a sensory input goes to the spinal cord, brain, and then motor output through the spinal cord to the hand. Focus on the role of the spinal cord for the purpose of this article.
•What happens when a spinal cord injury occurs?
•After reading this article ask: how was it possible for this subject to move his hand? What is necessary to make this happen?
•What are the future applications?
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