New Technique Activates Brain Neurons to Move Para... (been taught to play before the experimen...)

New Technique Activates Brain Neurons to Move Paralyzed Limb

Date:10/15/2008

been taught to play before the experiment began, Moritz noted.

"Once he [the monkey] was paralyzed, the only way to move his wrist was to change the activity of individual neurons in his brain, which then controlled stimulation of his muscles," Moritz said.

The researchers found that two-thirds of the neurons they tested could be used to control muscle stimulation.

"We also found that monkeys could learn very rapidly to control newly isolated neurons in order to stimulate their muscles," Moritz said. "Even neurons that were unrelated to the movement of his wrist could be brought under control and co-opted for control of the wrist muscles."

Co-author Eberhard Fetz, also a professor in the department of physiology and biophysics at the University of Washington, said during the teleconference that future work will focus on extending the time this brain-muscle interface is maintained.

This method can include several muscles and eventually groups of muscles, Fetz said. "We are thinking in terms of not just stimulating single muscles, but stimulating sites in the spinal cord that could activate muscles in a coordinated fashion," he said. "This could eventually lead to brain control of coordinated movements."

The study shows that this technology is possible, but many obstacles remain, Moritz said. "Certainly, we are several years away, if not several decades away, from this being ready for a clinical application," he said.

Paul Sanberg, director of the University of South Florida Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa, thinks that the research is promising.

"If they could overcome some of the problems of having implants in the brain over a long period and miniaturize the apparatus, it may be possible to use this technology to regain muscle movement in people," Sanberg said. "The amount of movement could be unlimited," he added.

Sanberg noted that for someone to us
'/>"/>

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3
Related medicine news :

1. Advanced Circulatory Systems Receives $1.5 Million From NIH for Study of Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Techniques
2. 3 Michigan Counties Participating in NIH Study of Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Techniques
3. Bio-imaging mass spectrometry techniques reveal molecular details about complex systems
4. 3-D MRI technique helps radiologists detect high-risk carotid disease
5. Surgical technique halts cell loss, Parkinsons researchers find
6. New Technique Removes Gallbladder Without External Incisions
7. Vertos Medical Inc. Presents Clinical Data of its MILD™ Procedure at the 5th Annual Innovative Techniques in Spine Surgery Conference in Los Cabos, Mexico
8. Weizmann Institute scientists new technique gets to the root of cancer
9. Corneal transplant technique shows promise in children
10. Researchers hone technique to KO pediatric brain tumors
11. New Technique Harvests Stem Cells at Earlier Stage

Post Your Comments:

New Technique Activates Brain Neurons to Move Para...(been taught to play before the experimen...),Health