New chip could turn quadriplegics into quasi-'telepaths'

Moving objects with a single thought may still be the realm of comic-book telepaths, but a new technology has allowed quadriplegics to control basic elements of a computer with nothing more than their mind.

Such is the case with 25-year-old Matthew Nagle, who was paralyzed from the neck down after a vicious knife attack.

After the attack, Nagle was unable to do any of the tasks most people take for granted. That is, until he was introduced to BrainGate, a new system that allows paralyzed people to move objects by relying solely on their brains.

U.S. engineers at a Massachusetts neurotechnology company have tested the brain-to-movement system. It uses a silicone sensor chip that is surgically implanted into the area of a patient's brain that controls movement.

To interface with a computer, the chip has 100 electrodes that record the activity of several brain cells simultaneously.

This enables the patient's brain to do numerous things, from turning the computer on to playing chess, without ever lifting a finger.

Researchers conducted a 12-month study on Nagle, in which the BrainGate device was used for nine months.

According to the scientists, the chip recorded and routed neurons outside of Nagle's brain and created command signals. He then successfully controlled external devices using these signals.

During an interview with CTV National News, Nagle used the technology to try and draw a circle on the computer screen using his thoughts.

He managed a triangle.

"That's the best circle I can do," he said after a nonetheless impressive demonstration.

Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems Inc, along with scientists from the Brown University Research Foundation, hopes BrainGate will eventually be paired with a muscular stimulator to allow paralyzed patients to move their limbs freely.

Photography: Wired.com

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, July 13 edition