It ’s days like this that make you gallant to be human . Using the power of the patient ’s intellect , scientists have enabled a man wholly paralyzed in both legs to walk again . And this astonishing feat did n’t involve the help of an exoskeleton or robotic limb , and no brain implants were required , making this afirst for rehabilitation .
The affected role was a 26 - year - previous man who had no motor ( movement ) function in his downhearted limbs due to a spinal corduroy injury sustained five years ago . He also lose sensation below his trauma , although he could just about feel when his bladder was full .
Describing the effect in theJournal of Neuroengineering and Rehabilitation , the squad ’s destination was to allow him to regain voluntary control of his leg using his brain , but without the motivation for invasive encephalon surgical operation . To achieve this , the researchers created a encephalon - computer user interface system using an EEG ( EEG ) detonating gadget to take patterns of mastermind activity while he mean about walk .
Next , he underwent training to learn how to acquire genius control of an avatar ’s walk within a virtual realism environment . Once he achieved this , he then had to build up up military strength in his leg musculus that had deteriorated through a lack of exercise , which involved electric stimulation combined with weight shifting tactic .
After his brawniness were recondition enough to stand , it was sentence for the really hard work to begin . Instead of going for gold straight away , the team first got him to practice walking movement while he was suspended a few centimeters off the ground . As he guess about walk , his brain signals ( read by the EEG jacket ) bypassed his damage spinal corduroy and were ping to electrode that had been positioned around his knees , providing muscular foreplay . Nineteen sessions later , the man had improved so much that he was quick to put his feet to the ground .
Wearing a system that supported his weight and help prevent falls , he was able to successfully translate what he had memorise and walked unsuspended . Over time , his command improved and he was able to walk several meter .
An undeniably unbelievable feat , but whether or not such a arrangement could ultimately offer benefits to the wide universe will rest on next trials postulate more people . plain everyone is unlike , as are their injury , but it is trust that this engineering could benefit many mass . However , it might not be suitable in some circumstances .
“ It can be theorize that a very severe traumatic mental capacity harm in tandem with a spinal electric cord injury could prevent this brain - computer user interface system from working , ” An Do , one of the cogitation ’s lead investigator , told IFLScience .
There is also , as always , elbow room for improvement , with the applied science require fine-tune and streamlining , which Do predicts will take a substantial amount of clip . Do also said that the squad is working towards develop a simplified version as well as a system that would involve a brain implant , which could potentially offer improved mastery .
