‘Thinking cap’ to help the disabled

Harnessing the electrical echoes of thought, researchers have developed a way for people to control a computer cursor simply by thinking abo...

Harnessing the electrical echoes of thought, researchers have developed a way for people to control a computer cursor simply by thinking about it.

The device, which so far has been tested successfully on four people, does not require implants, surgery or any other invasive medical procedure, the researchers reported on Monday. Previous efforts required electrodes wired directly into brain cells.

Instead, scientists at the New York State Department of Health and the State University of New York designed a system to monitor the faint electricity that naturally radiates from every brain and then created software to translate those reflections of thought into direct action.

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The research, made public in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, appears to offer a means for people paralysed by stroke, spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to operate computers or prosthetic devices by imagining the movement.

‘‘It is an impressive achievement,’’ said John Donoghue, a senior neuroscientist at Brown University who was not involved in the research project. ‘‘Such a device has great potential to improve the lives of paralysed individuals.’’ —LAT-WP

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