• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • WordPress
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
Science Update

Science Update

Sharing Science | Satisfying Curiosity | Debunking BS

  • Spotlights
  • Reality Check
  • Why Is It?
  • Radio Archives
  • Sciup @ School
Home » Radio Archive » Daily Show » Thought-Controlled Robot

Thought-Controlled Robot

June 7, 2012
https://podcast.scienceupdate.com/120607_sciup_robot.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window

BOB HIRSHON (host):

Brain-powered robotics.  I’m Bob Hirshon and this is Science Update.

Two patients with severe paralysis have learned to control a robotic arm – using only their thoughts.  The work was led by neurologist Leigh Hochberg, who’s affiliated with Providence VA Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brown University.  The patients have brain implants that record activity in their motor cortex, which controls movement.  A computer relays the activity to the robotic arm, turning distinctive thought patterns into commands.  With lots of practice, the patients learned to mentally control the arm.  One of them used it to pick up a coffee mug and take a sip of coffee.

LEIGH HOCHBERG (Harvard, Brown, Mass General, Providence VA):

And that was the first time in nearly 15 years, since she had her brainstem stroke, that she had been able to serve herself coffee or serve herself anything.

HIRSHON:
Hochberg says the ultimate goal is to send thought commands directly to implants in a patient’s limbs, so they can regain some form of voluntary movement.  I’m Bob Hirshon for AAAS, the Science Society.

A 58-year-old woman, paralyzed by a stroke for almost 15 years, uses her thoughts to control a robotic arm, grasp a bottle of coffee, serve herself a drink, and return the bottle to the table. (Brown University)
Category: Daily Show, Station DownloadTag: Brain Science, Computer Science, Engineering & Technology, Medicine & Health
Previous Post:Inheriting Anxiety
Next Post:Insect Roundup

Sidebar

Radio Program Archives

Want to learn more about the brain? The environment? Here you can browse the topics that come up regularly on Science Update.

Search the Archives

Categories

  • Daily Show
  • Station Download
  • Weekly Show

Find By Tag

  • 2020
  • Acoustics & Sound
  • Aging
  • Animal Behavior
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Astronomy & Space
  • Biology
  • Brain Science
  • Bugs
  • Cat Video
  • Chemistry
  • Children & Families
  • cicadas
  • Climate & Weather
  • Communications
  • Computer Science
  • Economics & Business
  • Education
  • Energy
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Environment & Conservation
  • Genetics & Evolution
  • Geology
  • Marine Science
  • Materials Science
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine & Health
  • Microbiology
  • Nanotechnology
  • NASA
  • Nutrition & Food Science
  • Paleontology & Dinosaurs
  • Physics
  • Plants & Agriculture
  • Political Science
  • Reality Check
  • Social & Behavioral Sciences
  • Sports & Fitness
  • spotlight
  • Spotlight Bugs
  • Terrorism & War
  • Why Is It? Questions
  • Wildlife
  • Year in Review

Find By Date

Science Update
  • About Science Update
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

Image of computer screen depicting an orange cat with a variety of alphanumeric scientific data superimposed on the the screen.
Spotted skunk performing handstand to threaten predators

Copyright © 2025 · Springtail Media LLC · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Pongos