Our cyberpunk future is one step closer. Monkeys have figured out how to use only their brain to control video games. The were implanted with hundreds of electrodes. They had a favorite video game they liked to play with a joystick. After the implantation, their implants were hooked into the game computer.

“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.”
The electrodes transmit faint signals to a computer system the researchers have developed to recognize patterns of signals that represent particular movements by an animal’s arm. These signals are translated and in turn control a robotic arm.
At first the animals were taught to use a joystick to control the cursor of a video game - which Nicolelis said they enjoyed playing. The researchers recorded and analyzed the electrical activity of the neurons near the implanted electrodes.

Apparently human trials are now under way. It is targeted currently towards the paralyzed being able to control wheelchairs and such. But I’m sure once the technology is proven and fully operational, I’m sure direct computer control isn’t that far off now!

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