Scientists build cyborg monkey

[Bounty]

Monkeys have been able to control robotic limbs using only their thoughts, scientists report.

The animals were able to feed themselves using prosthetic arms, which were controlled by brain activity.

Small probes, the width of a human hair, were inserted into the monkeys' primary motor cortex - the region of the brain that controls movement.

Writing in Nature journal, the authors said their work could eventually help amputees and people who are paralysed.

Lead researcher Dr Andrew Schwartz, who is based at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said: "We are beginning to understand how the brain works using brain-machine interface technology.

"The more we understand about the brain, the better we'll be able to treat a wide range of brain disorders, everything from Parkinson's disease and paralysis to, eventually, Alzheimer's disease and perhaps even mental illness."

natural movement

With the probes inserted into the monkeys' motor cortices, computer software was used to interpret the brain's electrical impulses and translate them into movement through the robotic arm.

This arm was jointed like a human arm and possessed a "gripper" that mimics a hand.

After some training, two monkeys - who had had their own arms restrained - were able to use the prosthetic limbs to feed themselves with marshmallows and chunks of fruit.

The researchers said that the movements were fluid and natural.

The monkeys were able to use their brains to continuously change the speed and direction of the arm and the gripper, suggesting that the monkeys had come to regard the robotic arm as a part of their own bodies.

The success rate of the experiment was 61%.

Dr Schwarz said: "In our research, we've demonstrated a higher level of precision, skill and learning.

"The monkey learns by first observing the movement, which activates its brain cells as if it was doing it. It's a lot like sports training, where trainers have athletes first imagine that they are performing the movements they desire."

Complex brain

He said the research could eventually benefit the development of prosthetic limbs for people with spinal cord injuries or for amputees.

He said: "Our immediate goal is to make a prosthetic device for people with total paralysis."

"Ultimately, our goal is to better understand brain complexity."

Commenting on the paper, Professor Paul M Matthew from the Hammersmith Hospital, said: "The challenge of interfacing the billions of nerve cells in the brain that control the full range of limb movements directly with a mechanical prosthesis has seemed impossibly difficult.

"However, this important paper confirms that the brain controls movement just by planning where to go, rather than by directing individual muscles how to make the limb get there.

"The study shows that fewer than 100 tiny electrical signals generated in the specialised area known as the 'motor cortex' can command even complex arm and hand movements.

"This moves the day when patients disabled after spinal cord injuries or amputations can use brain-controlled bionic limbs from the realm of science fiction towards science fact."

[Gomu Niwatari]

Awesome.

[Kanastrous]

I guess we know who the Republicans will be running in 2012.

[Eulogy]

Seconding the Awesome.

Now, if only we can get those limbs with built-in lasers, Swiss Army knives, and other awesome things.

[Kronos]

Awesome. But could we apply it to things like weapons targeting?

[Resinence]

Awesome. But could we apply it to things like weapons targeting?

Who needs auto-targetting when you can have 100% steady arms to hold the weapon

Milwanking aside, this is indeed an awesome discover, even better is knowing that the brain simply tells where it wants to go, have to wonder how many other functions are like that?

[LadyTevar]

I'm really not surprised that the brain's got 'shorthand' for things like that. It makes evolutionary sense, as that frees up braincells for other tasks.

[Natorgator]

Did anyone else think of this when they read the headline?



And of course, this is a very exciting development.

[Stark]

Milwanking aside, this is indeed an awesome discover, even better is knowing that the brain simply tells where it wants to go, have to wonder how many other functions are like that?

Many are; it's why those experiments with vision replacement had similar results. Once the brain is able to learn how the input or limb works, it's easy - they even say the difficulty they expected was complexity. I imagine biofeedback (since they can see the arm move in response to their commands) would have made training more effective. I'm curious what length of training was required, however.

[Sarevok]

I am curious about something. In the new Galactica show the Raiders have biological parts controlling the robotic body. The fleshy brain inside is intentionally not much higher than a dog to keep them from rebelling. With the new tech mentioned in the article could it be someday possible to replicate this in real world ? Could an animal brain be encased inside a robot body and taught to fight like our own Centurions ?

[Feil]

Direct neural control of computers/machines is nothing new.

2002
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v4 ... 6141a.html

2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-cpcoIJbOU

Still, good to see further experimentation - though it's really a shame that there hasn't been movement from animal experimentation to human use by now, after primate testing has shown that it works perfectly fine.

[ANGELUS]

Now, if only we can get those limbs with built-in lasers, Swiss Army knives, and other awesome things.

An slurpee machine??

[Tasoth]

What would be neat is to advance the technology to the point where it can run off the sugars released into the blood stream from digestion. Get rid of the need for carrying batteries and recharging it. But that's along way off yet.

[Axiomatic]

Cyborg monkeys? Are these people INSANE? Has nobody played System Shock 2?

[Aquatain]

I for one would like to welcome our new monkey overlords..

[Max]

I, for one, welcome our new Simianborg overlords.





*had to be said*

Nonetheless, very very cool.