Science FTW

[Scientist]

Cool stuff! My nickel summary I posted on the thread of the bb story about this:

Paralyzed 40-year-old man walks again after doctors gave him brain and spine implants

The story didn’t give me much idea of how it works, so for anyone interested: They implanted ecog electrodes (32 on each side) over primary motor cortex. They don’t record the activity of any particular neurons but instead get a general readout of the activity of the area that would initiate leg movements. This signal is translated into electrical stimuli that go to the nerve roots in his lower back where leg motor neurons leave the spine. That way when he tries to walk, the leg muscles will be…