Experimental Neurochip Could Help People With Movement Disorders

Go UW!

A new brain chip under development established new connections
in the brains of monkeys in a region that controls movement.
Scientists hope to eventually make a version that could help hu-
mans with movement disorders.

The ongoing research at the University of Washington is led by
Andrew Jackson, Jaideep Mavoori and Eberhard Fetz.

The scientists tested a tiny device with a computer chip placed
atop the heads of monkeys.
The device, called Neurochip, interacted with the brain's motor
cortex, where neurons direct the body's movements.

The device produced changes that lasted more than a week in the
primates: Movements evoked from the recording site changed to
resemble those evoked from the stimulation site, the scientists
said.
The changes were likely due to strengthening of pathways within
the cortex from the recording to the stimulation site, they said.

Future implantable versions of the device might aid rehabilitation
of patients with brain injuries, stroke, or paralysis, the researchers
speculated.


SOURCE:
LiveScience.com

This is very cool research, hopefully an effective and safe human
version can be created.


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[edit on 10/25/2006 by iori_komei]