Reproducing brain damage by microchip

William Gibson in the Johnny Mnemonic story mentions the introduction of microchips containing sensitive information into the human brain. Today, a group of American scientists claims they can turn this fiction into reality.

According to CNN on May 11, the Memorial of Electronic Circuits (University of Southern California, Wake Forest University of North Carolina and its partners) is rated as one of the top technology breakthroughs. in 2013. The project has lasted for a decade and is expected to begin testing on volunteers over the next two years. Applicability to practice for 5 or 10 years.

Doctors practice brain surgery on the robot - (Photo: CNN)

"I never thought my life would see that," said Ted Berger, a biomedical engineering professor at the University of Southern California in CNN. "I may not benefit from it but my children will enjoy it."

The researchers tested mice and monkeys. Experiments show that certain functions of the brain can be replaced by the signals of the electrodes.

Scientists believe they have decoded how long-term memories are created, stored and retrieved. They also found a way to replicate this process in a damaged brain, especially a stroke or injury.

Mr. Berger said that they had recorded memories in a non-damaged area of the brain, then used this data to predict what a damaged area in the 'downstream' should do. They use electrodes to stimulate damaged areas to replicate the activities of damaged cells.

The team said their research was unlike what had been done before, such as implantation of the device into the brain to aid in the treatment of epilepsy. 'It's like the difference between a stick to get you going with a prosthetic leg. There are two different approaches, " said Mr. Hampson, whose measures can not help patients with severe memory loss.