This is quite possibly world-changing technology.

Tesearchers found that the newly formed fibers bypassed the original spinal lesion and allowed signals from the brain to reach the electrochemically awakened spine. And the signal was sufficiently strong to initiate movement over ground — without the treadmill — meaning the rats began to walk voluntarily towards the reward, entirely supporting their own weight with their hind legs. A severed section of the spinal cord can make a comeback when its own innate intelligence and regenerative capacity is awakened. The study points to a profound change in our understanding of the central nervous system. It is yet unclear if similar rehabilitation techniques could work for humans, but the observed nerve growth hints at new methods for treating paralysis.

2015-09-13:

A 28-year-old who has been paralyzed for more than a decade as a result of a spinal cord injury has become the first person to be able to “feel” physical sensations through a prosthetic hand directly connected to his brain, and even identify which mechanical finger is being gently touched.

2016-04-18:

the first neural bypass for spinal cord injuries that reconnects the brain to muscles, allowing voluntary and functional control of a paralyzed limb by using a patient’s thoughts — no robotic prosthetic arm required.

2016-11-11:

An international team of scientists has used a wireless “brain-spinal interface” to bypass spinal cord injuries in a pair of rhesus macaques, restoring nearly normal intentional walking movement to a temporarily paralyzed leg.

The finding could help in developing a similar system to rehabilitate humans who have had spinal cord injuries.

2018-09-25:

Thomas and Jeff Marquis, who was paralyzed after a mountain biking accident, can now independently walk again after participating in a study at the University of Louisville that was published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Thomas’ balance is still off and she needs a walker, but she can walk 100m across grass. She also gained muscle and lost the nerve pain in her foot that has persisted since her accident. Another unnamed person with a spinal cord injury can now independently step across the ground with help from a trainer.

2021-01-30:

After 4 months of training—including 2 with stimulation—every person more than doubled their pinching strength. Several doubled their grasping strength. 1 person regained enough dexterity to drive without an assistive device. Another could handle their catheter well enough to insert it on their own. Owen decided to try painting. At the beginning of the experiment, she recalls, “I was like, ‘I can kind of hold a brush and some paints, and why don’t I give this a go?’” So she ordered a paint-by-numbers kit of a portrait of a dog. “It was kind of hard, and I don’t think it turned out very well, but I’m still really impressed by it”.

2022-02-08:

3 people once paralyzed by complete spinal-cord injuries can walk, swim, work the pedals of a bicycle and even paddle canoes, thanks to an implant specifically designed to control movement by mimicking the signals the lower body usually receives from the brain and upper spinal cord. Once the implant was in place, each person could control the pattern of electrical stimulation, using buttons and a tablet to raise or lower each leg, for example. All 3 participants recovered some level of movement within 1 day of activating the implant, including being able to walk on a treadmill while their weight was supported. “The first few steps were incredible — a dream come true!”. The participants were also able to take part in activities such as pedalling a bicycle and performing squats, and to keep their bodies stable while paddling canoes, using the device to guide their muscles through preprogrammed movements.

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