] Washington - Dr Miguel Nicolelis knew he had nailed it ] when the monkey stopped using her arm to play the ] computer game. ] ] ] An implanted device had allowed the monkey to control the ] game using only her thoughts, Nicolelis and colleagues ] report in the Public Library of Science Biology journal ] on Monday. ] ] ] And changes in the way the monkey's brain cells worked ] suggested the brain was physically adjusting to the ] device, they reported in the new online science journal. ] ] Nicolelis hopes the device will eventually allow ] paralyzed patients to regain some ability to use their ] upper bodies - virtually, if not physically. ] ] ] "The monkey suddenly realized that she didn't need to ] move her arm at all," Nicolelis said in a statement. ] ] ] "Her arm muscles went completely quiet, she kept the arm ] at her side and she controlled the robot arm using only ] her brain and visual feedback." Good applications, scary applications. IOL : Monkey think, monkey do... now people too? |