💻 Monkeys Controlled a Virtual Body Using Only Their Thoughts

Brain-computer interfaces already allow paralyzed patients to open apps, use social media, and even play video games. But these interactions are mostly limited to two dimensions: users are essentially just moving a cursor on a screen with their minds.

Controlling movement in the real world is still limited to experimental prosthetics, which often require months of training to perform simple actions like lifting an arm, making a fist, or taking a step.

⚙️ Researchers in Belgium took a step further by developing a neural implant that can control an entire virtual body. Most brain-computer interfaces connect only to the motor cortex, which handles movement. In this case, scientists also implanted electrodes in the premotor cortex—the part of the brain responsible for planning movements.

To test their new system, the researchers worked with three macaques. The animals wore 3D glasses and sat in front of a screen displaying a virtual environment. During training, they watched a ball roll toward a target across a flat surface.

❗️ After just seven minutes, the system began to interpret the monkeys' intentions. The animals were then able to move the ball themselves, guiding it to the target, and even control an avatar as it navigated through a forest, adjusting its path in real time to avoid obstacles.

"We found that the brain adapts to the system surprisingly fast. This makes the technology a much better candidate for applications for patients," says study lead Peter Janssen.

⚡️ The researchers plan to begin human trials within the next two years.

@hiaimediaen