Brain-Spinal Interface: Bypassing Injuries

An international group of scientists collaborated to develop a brain-spinal interface that is able to bypass spinal cord injuries to restore intentional walking in a paralyzed leg. Typically, neurons in the brain work with the spinal cord in order to make walking possible. Electrical signals originating in the motor cortex of the brain travel down to the lower spinal cord where they activate motor neurons that signal muscles to extend and flex the leg. An injury in the spine can cut off this communication. To help regain this communication, a pill-sized brain chip was made and put in the brains of paralyzed rhesus monkeys where it recorded signals from the motor cortex. These signals were then sent to a computer for decoding. The decoded neural messages were wirelessly sent to an electrical spinal stimulator implanted below the area of injury. This signaled the spinal nerves to perform locomotion and the paralyzed monkeys were able to walk on a treadmill. The many scientists who played a part in developing this brain-spinal interface are very excited by this progress but stress the importance of further research before this type of interface can be used in humans.

Review: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161109133133.htm

Primary study: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v539/n7628/full/nature20118.html