Researchers in Belgium have made a significant advancement in brain-computer interface technology, demonstrating that monkeys can control a virtual body solely through their thoughts. While existing brain-computer interfaces have enabled paralyzed individuals to interact with apps, social media, and even video games, these interactions have largely been confined to two-dimensional cursor movements. Real-world movement control remains limited, often relying on experimental prosthetics that necessitate extensive training for basic actions like arm movement, fist clenching, or stepping. In a groundbreaking study, scientists developed a neural implant capable of governing an entire virtual body. Unlike traditional interfaces that connect solely to the motor cortex, which is responsible for movement, this new approach involves implanting electrodes in the premotor cortex, the area of the brain that plans movements. To evaluate this innovative system, the researchers collaborated with three macaques. These animals donned 3D glasses and observed a screen that presented a virtual landscape. During their training, they watched a ball roll toward a target on a flat surface. Remarkably, after just seven minutes, the system started to decode the monkeys' intentions. They were then able to manipulate the ball to hit the target and even control a virtual avatar, guiding it through a forest while dynamically avoiding obstacles. Peter Janssen, the lead investigator of the study, remarked, "We discovered that the brain adapts to the system surprisingly quickly. This enhances the technology's potential for applications with patients." Looking ahead, the research team intends to initiate human trials within the next two years.
Informational material. 18+.
