Thursday, July 31, 2008

Brain Chips : The future is here

Tech Guru


An implantable device in live animals that can record signals from one part of the brain and send impulses to other. In the process neural connections are reshaped. It is believed to pave way for restoring motor and cognitive function in the wake of brain injuries and strokes. Also it promises for returning limited motor functions to patients with spinal cord injuries.

Scientists are now building a device that records brain signals and transmits them to paralyzed muscles, potentially returning muscle control to severely paralyzed patients. In the prosthetic system, which is still in early development, a brain chip records neural signals from the part of the brain that controls movement. The chip then processes those signals, sending precise messages to wires implanted in different muscles of the patient's arm or hand, triggering the paralyzed limb to grab a glass or scratch the nose.