New research using electrical brain stimulation has enabled two patients with paralysis to temporarily regain their sense of touch, even feeling textures, edges, and motion. This breakthrough uses implanted electrodes to stimulate specific brain regions, mimicking the sensations of holding objects and controlling a robotic arm.
New research could soon help patients suffering from years of paralysis once again feel the shape of an object. This accomplishment is a massive leap forward for electrical brain stimulation and has helped two patients temporarily regain their sense of touch. Previous attempts to restore touch through brain stimulation have been limited to simple contact sensations—essentially, the difference between touching and not touching something.
With the implants in place, the participants regained their sense of touch temporarily and could feel as though they were holding familiar objects, such as a can or pen. The stimulation even mimicked the sensation of motion across their fingers. The researchers tested the implants further by connecting electrodes to a robotic arm controlling a virtual car steering wheel.
Brain Stimulation Paralysis Sensory Restoration Robotics Spinal Cord Injuries
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