Using a wireless brain-spinal interface, a team of dedicated neuroengineers was able to bypass spinal cord injuries in two paralyzed rhesus macaques. Technology is certainly taking wonderful steps in an exciting direction!

Walking isn’t a simple task. Leg movement comprises of a complex mixture of neurons within the brain and spinal cord. When an injury occurs to the upper spine, the delicate communication between the brain and lower spinal cord is severed. The ultimate goal of this breakthrough technology is to reestablish the lost internal communication. 

The entire system starts with an implanted chip located in the motor cortex, the region of the brain where the electrical signals responsible for coordinating movement originate. A neurosensor records the brain signals and wirelessly sends the data to a computer. After the computer decodes the gathered information, it transmits the results to an electrical spinal stimulator located right above the injured area in both primates. This stimulation communicates to the nerves in the spine in charge of physical movement.

In order to accurately calibrate the decoding process, the transmitter and brain sensor were first implanted in two healthy rhesus macaques. This captured the brain signals involved with normal leg movement and locomotion. That intricate pattern was mapped onto the two injured primates, both sustaining temporary paralysis due to spinal cord lesions on their upper and middle back.

When the device was turned on, the two animals began to spontaneously move their legs and regain near-normal walking patterns. Even though this technology is incredibly exciting to watch in action, it’s important to remember that the team has much more research and development on the horizon. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, we’ll see this technology expand to even greater heights. 

Watch the results of the study in the video below!