Study: Brain Implant Lets Paralyzed Man Regain Use Of Hand

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NEW YORK (CBSMiami/AP) — A 24-year old man paralyzed due to a spinal cord injury regained use of his right hand thanks to a brain implant.

In a study released Wednesday by the journal Nature, researchers said the man can grasp a bottle, pour its contents into a jar, pick up a stick and stir the liquid. He can grab a credit card and swipe it through a reader. He can also move individual fingers.

Signals from the brain implant are interpreted by a computer, which then stimulates the man's hand muscles by using electrodes strapped to his forearm. Researchers say they hope that someday, an improved version of the system may also help people with traumatic brain injury or stroke.

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