No, scientists haven’t been developing monkey-cyborg warriors. They’ve been researching prosthetic limbs, and according to a study just published on the web at Nature, they’ve made a massive breakthrough.
The New York Times tells the story in layman’s terms, and shows a video of the monkeys that will soon be our overlords. Here’s the gist:
Two monkeys with little sensors in their brains have learned to control a prosthetic arm with only their thoughts, using it to reach for and grab food and even to adjust for the size and stickiness of morsels when necessary, scientists reported Wednesday.
The report, released online by the journal Nature, is the most striking demonstration to date of brain-machine interface technology, which scientists anticipate will eventually allow people with spinal cord injuries and other paralyzing conditions to gain more control over their lives. The findings recommend that brain-controlled prosthetics, while not yet practical, are at least technically within reach.
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