Brain–machine interfaces have the potential to restore some normal motor function in paralysed individuals. The authors implanted a 96-channel microelectrode array into the motor cortex of an individual with tetraplegia and connected it to a prosthetic limb. After 3 months of training, the individual could carry out skilful and co-ordinated upper-limb motor tasks. This represents an important advance in the development of neuroprosthetic limbs that use a patient's natural command signals to guide movement.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Collinger, J. L. et al. High-performance neuroprosthetic control by an individual with tetraplegia. Lancet 17 Dec 2012 (doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61816-9)
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Lewis, S. From dream to reality for 'bionic' limbs?. Nat Rev Neurosci 14, 78 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3434
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3434