Paralyzed Man Plays Guitar After Brain Chip Implant

A man who was paralyzed from the shoulders down is now able to play the guitar thanks to a computer chip that transmits movement signals from his brain to his fingers. According to the Wired website, this 24-year-old named Jan Burkhardt can now move his right hand in six different ways – including picking up and lifting small objects – two years after the chip was implanted. Burkhardt's neck was broken six years ago from a dive into water, and he has been unable to move since then. Scientists at Ohio State University imaged his brain and placed the computer chip in the motor area of his brain. This is the first time a person who was completely paralyzed has been able to achieve voluntary movement. They believe this offers a glimmer of hope for those living with paralysis. Burkhardt can move large objects, empty a glass of water, move his fingers to play the guitar, and swipe his credit card. NBC News quotes Burkhardt saying, 'I think about what I want to do, and now I can do it.' This method is not without flaws. A power cord hangs above Burkhardt, and numerous wires are connected to his arm to stimulate his wrist and fingers. However, Dr. Ali Rezaei from Ohio State University, who has worked on this project, says wireless technology will eliminate these barriers. He states, 'Your mobile phone... will communicate with your arm.' Many groups are working on ways to help disabled individuals move using only their brain signals. This involves three main parts: understanding which signals relate to the intention to move, translating these signals into something readable by a computer, and then moving the muscles. Many individuals have been able to control robotic arms through brain chip implants. Researchers have successfully taught two monkeys how to navigate a wheelchair using only their brains. Burkhardt has been collaborating with doctors and engineers for four years. Chad Bouton, a researcher at the Feinstein Institute in New York, says the hardest part of the work is training the computer to recognize a person's brain signals. Burkhardt says, 'If I think about opening my hand over and over again, the scientists can see it as an electrical signal and understand that I am thinking about opening my hand. At first, I was shocked because something I hadn't moved for about three and a half years, I now expect to move.'