Connecting Brains to the Outside World
From: New York Times - 08/02/2010
By: Claudia Dreifus

Brown University professor John P. Donoghue's area of study is the
integration of human brain signals with modern electronics to help paralysis
patients assume greater control over their environments. His BrainGate
machine allows paralyzed people to link their brains to the outside world by
moving objects through thought impulses. This is achieved by implanting a
sensor into the area of the patient's brain that produces movement commands,
which transmits the commands to a plug attached to the patient's scalp. The
signals are then fed into a computer that translates them into simple
actions, such as moving a cursor or a robotic arm. BrainGate builds upon
Donoghue's research into how the cerebral cortex translates thoughts into
action. The development of the brain implant used in the BrainGate was a
major advancement, as the device enabled many of the brain's signals to be
decoded and their relation to movement uncovered. Donoghue says the next step
in the BrainGate project is to test a smaller, noninvasive wireless implant
so that the scalp plug becomes unnecessary. Another research focus is the
miniaturization of the system so that it can be wholly integrated into the
body. 

Read the entire article at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/03/science/03conv.html

Links:
BrainGate
http://www.braingate.com/

John P. Donoghue
http://braingate2.org/donoghue.asp

Donoghue Lab
http://donoghue.neuro.brown.edu/