An innovative experiment, in which a paralyzed man was implanted with a brain implant connected to a computer, allows the patient to operate everyday devices, with the help of brain wave reception on the computer
Matthew Nagle, 25, was attacked with a knife in 2001 and has been paralyzed from the neck down ever since. Nagle is in a wheelchair and is unable to breathe without a ventilator. The doctors' evaluations showed that he has no chance of regaining the use of his limbs. But a revolutionary experiment of a brain implant connected to a computer, allows it to control daily actions by receiving brain waves. The computer reads his thoughts and translates them into actions.
The "Guardian" reports that Nagel underwent the innovative surgery at the "New England Sinai" hospital in Massachusetts. There, for three hours, electrodes were attached to his brain, which were placed just above the cerebral cortex - the place where the nerve signals that control the arm and hand movement are produced. At the end of the operation, a kind of metallic socket was inserted into Nagel's head, through which Nagel is connected to a computer.
The researchers, led by Prof. John Donihoe, an international expert in neurosurgery at Brown University in Rhode Island, used a computer to decode the brain waves collected by the implant. In the initial tests, Nagel learned to move a cursor on the computer screen by imagining that he was moving his arm.
In the most recent tests, conducted at the beginning of the year, Nagel was able to open and close a prosthetic hand, and move a robotic arm, with which he grabbed candy from one person's hand and transferred it to another person's hand. Also, he improved significantly in his playing qualities in the old computer game Pong.
By using software linked to computer devices around the room, Nagel is now able to turn the television on and off, change channels and change the volume, all with the help of thought. "Ultimately, we want it to be able to control lights, telephones and other devices as well," Professor Donihoe said.
Prof. Donihoe hopes that the implant, called the "Brain Gate" will allow paraplegics to regain use of their limbs. "If we manage to find a way to connect the system to the patient's muscles as well, he will be able to open and close his own hands and move his arms," he says. "We are very encouraged by Matthew's condition, but we are cautious, as it is currently only one person. There is still room for improvement, but we are undoubtedly on the way," Donihoe said.
The umbrella organization of people with disabilities in Israel
