A group of scientists from the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York, has developed a brain-computer interface (BCI) that allows patients to regain not just movement in paralyzed limbs, but also the ability to feel them again. The team is headed by Chad Bouton, who has been working on this project since at least 2015.

The interface utilizes a “double neural bypass” system, which they recently tested on a patient, Keith Thomas, who had been paralyzed from the chest down following a diving accident. Previously, Thomas could only lift his arm marginally. By implanting multiple electrode arrays into his brain, the research team succeeded in restoring his movement and sensation.

This advancement is significant as it also allows sensory data to be sent back to the brain as Thomas moves, enhancing his ability to modulate grip strength, demonstrated by his ability to hold fragile objects without breaking them.

In the words of Chad Bouton, “Right now, we just know the results are significant and leading to functional and meaningful outcomes.”

Through neuroplasticity, it appears Thomas’s brain is adapting and relearning, allowing him to experience sensation despite not being connected to the BCI system directly.

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(Source: The Wall Street Journal)

For more breakthroughs in brain-computer technology, the researchers encourage continued funding and interest in medical research, emphasizing its crucial role in developing transformative healthcare solutions.