The second part of the experiment yielded a much bigger surprise. As one of our monkeys, Idoya, walked on the treadmill in Durham, N.C., our brain-machine interface broadcast a constant stream of her brain's electrical activity through Cheng's Internet connection to Kyoto. There CB1 detected these motor commands and began to walk as well, almost immediately. CB1 first needed some support at the waist, but in later experiments it began to move autonomously in response to the brain-derived commands generated by the monkey on the other side of the globe.
What is more, even when the treadmill at Duke stopped and Idoya ceased walking, she could still control CB1's leg movements in Kyoto by merely observing the robot's legs moving on a live video feed and imagining each step CB1 should take. Idoya continued to produce the brain patterns required to make CB1 walk even though her own body was no longer engaged in this motor task. This transcontinental brain-machine interface demonstration revealed that it is possible for a human or a simian to readily transcend space, force and time by liberating brain-derived commands from the physical limits of the biological body that houses the brain and broadcasting them to a man-made device located far from the original thought that generated the action.
These experiments imply that brain-machine interfaces could make it possible to manipulate robots sent into environments that a human will never be able to penetrate directly: our thoughts might operate a microsurgical tool inside the body, say, or direct the activities of a humanoid worker trying to repair a leak at a nuclear plant.
The interface could also control tools that exert much stronger or lighter forces than our bodies can, thereby breaking free of ordinary constraints on the amount of force an individual can exert. Linking a monkey's brain to a humanoid robot has already done away with constraints imposed by the clock: Idoya's mental trip around the globe took 20 milliseconds—less time than was required to move her own limb.
Along with inspiring visions of the far future, the work we have done with monkeys gives us confidence that our plan may be achievable. At the time of this writing, we are waiting to see whether the International Football Association (FIFA), which is in charge of organizing the ceremony, will grant our proposal to have a paraplegic young adult participate in the opening ceremony of the inaugural game of the 2014 World Cup. The Brazilian government—which is still awaiting FIFA's endorsement—has tentatively supported our application.
Bureaucratic difficulties and scientific uncertainties abound before our vision is realized. Yet I cannot stop imagining what it will be like during the brief but historic stroll onto a tropical green soccer pitch for three billion people to witness a paralyzed Brazilian youth stand up, walk again by his or her own volition, and ultimately kick a ball to score an unforgettable goal for science, in the very land that mastered the beautiful game.
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11 Comments
Add CommentMr. Nicolelis is someone who prides Brazilians. Unfortunately, most of the technology which he helps to develop isn't Brazilian owned. In the future, we'll have to pay high royalties to use it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSeems a small price to pay to regain mobility.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI sure would like to volunteer. C-7 incomplete SCI since 1/08. David Morgan, 424 North Tenth Street, Albemarle, NC 28001 davidmorgan@ctc.net
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA fantastic new technology with exciting exciting prospects for the disabled true enough.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo ... "2014" ? oh no ... "perhaps by the next decade" ? .... or as the headline says ".....soon" ?
All sounds a bit confused if you ask me.
The science is exciting, but this article is over the top. As with the much-ballyhooed DEKKA arm that appears frequently on TV, whatever is demonstrated at the World Cup (and I hope the developers meet their deadline) will not be available to the average amputee or brain-injured individual for at least a decade afterward. It turns out that the engineering is as difficult as the science. It's one thing to produce a prototype; it's another thing entirely to produce a supply of devices that are practical in daily life. I wish the scientists all the best, but I urge caution in making predictions. The many men and women who need this science get their hopes up only to find out that the whiz bang stuff is probably not going to be available to them in any meaningful timeframe.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe article admits: "We are on our way, perhaps by the next decade, to technology that links the brain with mechanical, electronic or virtual machines.". Let's give those scientists and engineers credit for what they've achieved and wish them luck. DARPA is funding research in this area to help the amputees from Afganinstan gain mobility.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI would like to preface this by saying that I'm in full support of restoring the quality of life of the disabled. However, I am wary of some of these visions surrounding brain-machine interfaces. We have enough trouble protecting precious banking information that's stored on our computers today, so what would be keeping a skilled hacker from accessing my thoughts, dreams, and memories in the future? We're heading into an age that will be filled to the brim with ethical debates surrounding technological progress.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisScientific progress is necessary for human survival, but sometimes we need to stop, take a breath, and look around us.
"I hope we never fully understand the human brain because somebody will just abuse it." (to that effect) - Theodore Dalrymple.
Technology is moving so fast that anything can happen. Throughtout history, men have been under pressure by the circumstances.And when such scenarios come along the way, we usually come with gib stuff. The cold war has proven this. We never know what event will happen and give emergence to higher technologies. We can even go above the expectations. I believe it's just a matter of time, though no one knows exactly when.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTechnology is moving so fast that anything can happen. Throughtout history, men have been under pressure by the circumstances.And when such scenarios come along the way, we usually come with big stuff. The cold war has proven this. We never know what event will happen and give emergence to higher technologies. We can even go above the expectations. I believe it's just a matter of time, though no one knows exactly when.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDARPA funds lots of exciting research into science and technology to aid wounded soldiers, including the DEKKA arm and the work described in this article. I give them and the researchers they fund all the credit in the world -- my son is one of the soldiers waiting eagerly for their work to be deployed and has participated in DARPA funded trials. My problem with this overly optimistic report stems from watching him and other "wounded warriors" gradually and painfully come to grips with the reality that, despite wildly optimistic reports and claims and misleading Today Show appearances, the new technologies will not be available in any timeframe relevant to their recovery and reintegration into civilian life. I would contrast this over-the-top report with the more responsible caution shown by the scientists who recently unveiled their findings re: "junk" DNA.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm the one. I look like the picture At top! I'm in top physical condition and have been a complete C6 quadriplegic for only a year and a half. I am determined like no one else and will fight till my last breath. I have real passion for the beautiful game; before my accident was on two soccer teams and won state in cross-country. I will make the world proud. Contact-801-864-1124 or 801-450-2803 kendra.jean17@gmail.com
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