Artificial hands controlled by thought

Scientists are testing a type of mechanical arm that can be controlled by thought. If successful, this would be a revolution for those who lost their arms or were paralyzed.

According to Dailymail , the experiment was conducted with two monkeys, who were able to use artificial arms to carry food into their mouths. Artificial hands can be moved by the shoulders and elbows, can hold almost like real hands. A small hair-like chip implanted into the brain will connect to the sensor on the artificial arm. The circuit will read the signal that the neuron emits , turning that signal into an order for the prosthetic arm to execute quickly.

The microchip implant technique in the brain was developed by John Donoghue, leader of the brain research program of Brown University, USA.

Test of artificial hands in monkeys, they can use artificial hands to bring food into the mouth (Photo: TheSun)

In 2002, Professor Kevin Warwick (head of cybernetics at the University of Reading) practiced Donoghue's theory. Kevin Warwick implanted a chip into his own nervous system to control a robotic arm (produced by Dr. Peter Kyberd), and succeeded in using thought to control it.

Two years after Warwick's experiment, another American, Matthew Nagle, took a step further by using a robotic arm to control a computer mouse to check e-mail, switch TV channels and even paint on a computer. Most recently, two monkeys with artificial arms and implantable control chips were able to use their hands to pick up the fruits and put them in their mouths.

By July 2009, the US Government officially allowed testing of robotic arms on humans. According to Warwick professor, it takes a few more years for the artificial arm to really complete.