New York, July 19 (SANA) An experimental brain implant has restored the sense of touch in people with spinal cord injuries by generating artificial sensations through electrical stimulation, according to a new U.S. study.
The research, published Saturday and reported by the U.S.-based science website Know Ridge, was conducted by scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Chicago. It involved five volunteers with spinal cord injuries and represents the longest follow-up study to evaluate a brain-computer interface designed to restore the sense of touch.
The system uses microscopic electrodes implanted in the brain to deliver electrical pulses, enabling participants to perceive sensations as if they were touching objects with their own hands, even though the signals are generated artificially.
Researchers said the long-term results were encouraging, with participants consistently perceiving sensations in their hands rather than elsewhere in the body. They said the findings could support the technology’s future use in everyday settings.
The study also found the technology to have a favorable safety profile. Participants reported no painful side effects, and the artificial sensations disappeared within seconds after electrical stimulation stopped. The implanted electrodes remained functional for several years, extending the duration achieved in previous studies.
The findings build on earlier research that enabled users to control robotic limbs using brain signals. Researchers are now working to integrate motor control with artificial touch, while related studies are exploring ways to restore vision and hearing, with the long-term goal of developing practical therapies for use beyond clinical settings.
US study shows experimental brain implant restores sense of Touch in People with Spinal Cord Injuries
R.H/Abd
