Imagine being paralyzed in an accident, and then being asked by your own alma mater to participate in an experiment that could help you walk again.
This is what happened to Adam Fritz, a now 28-year-old man who was injured in an accident in 2008.
But a study done by biomedical engineer Zoran Nenadic and Neurologist An Do at the University of California, Irvine has now allowed this man to walk a short distance.
What makes it extra cool is that he can do this through a brain-to-computer link, proving that such mind controlled technology is possible.
This marks the first time, says a press release by UCI, that “a person with complete paralysis in both legs due to spinal cord injury was able…to take steps without relying on manually controlled robotic limbs.”
“Even after years of paralysis,” said Nenadic, “the brain can still generate robust brain waves that can be harnessed to enable basic walking. We showed that you can restore intuitive brain-controlled walking after a complete spinal cord injury.”
The brain-controlled system takes electrical signals from the subject’s brain, sends them through an algorithm, and sense signals to electrodes around the knees to get the leg muscles to move.
Because this success involved only one patient, extensive physical therapy and months of mental training, this study needs much more research before we know if this can be done for more people who need it.
But until then, you can watch this video of Fritz walking! It’s really something.
