Monkeys use brain power to move robotic arm

Medical researchers at Duke University said Tuesday that their recent research revealed that the brain cells of monkeys adapt when moving robotic arms as if they were their own. This follows a 2003 study that showed monkeys were capable of controlling robotic arms using only their brain, although at the time it wasn't evident that the monkeys' brain cells had actually changed. The study, which is published in the Journal of Neuroscience (some of our favourite bedtime reading), concludes that the primate brain is extraordinarily adaptable and could lead the way towards brain-operated devices for handicapped people.

[eXceL @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Yikes! So does this mean it's possible for humans? So we could 'adapt' to having mechanical tails or wings? Heh, the self-duplicating robots can help build giant mechanical arms for the monkies. Ah, we're doomed.

[DIJ @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Does this mean I can get an extra pair of arms so that I can play my DS with the stylus, without dropping it?

DIJ
http://www.ds-scene.co.uk

[heel pain @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

They'll get on a lot better typing up the entire works of Shakespear now then won't they

[heath @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

i for one welcome our cyborg monkey overlords....

[blore40 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Article from wired. Humans are doing it too.

http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,1286,66259,00.html

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Shoot this ain't news. This has been going on for a long time. I remember seeing a documentary about it a couple of years ago. Where/when was that again? Oh yeah...now I remember...

"A long time ago
In a galaxy far far away..."

[stevecrozz @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Yeah that 2003 study was on the cover of Scientific American back then, I'm glad their still working on this weird study.

[privatejoker25 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

I remember seeing something about this last year. Check out www.cyberkinetics.com to see one of the major companies that are doing it. Now it's only a few years before I can replace my inferior fleshy parts with cold hard steel.

[PMoney @ Dec 19th 2005 2:14AM]

Doctor Octavius, here we come...anybody have some spare tritium?