Thought-Controlled Arm May Work in People-Report

[Mithras61]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=581&e=2&u=/nm/20040323/tc_nm/health_robotics_dc

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scientists who trained a monkey to move a mechanical arm using thought alone said on Tuesday that experiments in Parkinson's disease (news - web sites) patients show the technique may work in humans, too.

Electrodes implanted in the brains of Parkinson's disease patients transmitted signals that might someday be used to operate remote devices, the team at Duke University Medical Center reported.

This would be a nice development if this can actually be refined enough to work well. It may even give hope of functioning artificial limbs to those who loose them in amputations, and those who have lost control of their bodies due to birth defect or spinal injury.

[spinbaby]

1. Ohhh....

Yes, that is a very good thing.

I had misunderstood the subject line and thought you were talking about the mind-control arm of the government.

[Supormom]

2. Yes, I thought the same thing.

I was prepared to read the worst!

[Nlighten1]

4. It depends...

This is just the thing the Transhumanist movement is advocating.

[frank frankly]

5. what is the Transhumanist movement, Nlighten1?

i'll look it up, but thank you for any info!

[Nlighten1]

7. Here ya go...

http://www.transhumanism.org/



http://www.transhumanism.org/declaration.htm

[salinen]

3. Good news!

"Scientists who trained a monkey to move a mechanical arm using thought alone said on Tuesday that experiments in Parkinson's disease (news - web sites) patients show the technique may work in humans, too.

That means W will have a job in December.

[maddezmom]

6. LOL

needed a chuckle today, thanks. :)

[Voltaire99]

8. Of course it already works in people

What do you think operates the lever in the voting booth?