A man without limbs has successfully received a brain implant that allows him to control electronic devices via signals from his brain, reports the Chinese newspaper Global Times. China says it is the second country after the US to have successfully completed this clinical trial.
Chinese researchers implanted the brain implant in the man in March. Several weeks after the procedure, thanks to some training, he was able to play racing and chess games on the computer with his thoughts. He could also control other programs via the chip.
The man lost all four of his limbs in a high-voltage accident thirteen years ago. “It feels like I can move the way I want again,” he said.
The brain implant has been working properly since its placement and has not caused any infections or other problems, reports the research team from the Shanghai Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology (CEBSIT).
The research team will now further investigate whether the man will also be able to perform physical actions with a robotic arm in the future, such as grabbing a cup.
China and US embroiled in ‘brain implant race’
The implant placed in the man is about the size of a coin, with a diameter of 26 millimeters and a thickness of less than 6 millimeters.
This involves so-called BCI (brain-computer interface) technology, in which brain signals are captured and then converted into commands for a computer. China and the United States are closely following each other in what is described as a ‘brain implant race’.
For example, the American company Neuralink, led by Elon Musk, recently used a brain implant to show a monkey something that was not physically present. According to the company, this was an important step in making sight possible for the blind.
The expectation is that CEBSIT’s technology will be approved for general use in 2028. This could potentially significantly improve the quality of life for people with severe paralysis.