Hand Prostheses Get a Big Boost in Control

Losing the ability to use your hands. For many people with paralysis or diseases like ALS, this is a daily reality. Scientists have been working on a solution: neuroprostheses, which are artificial hands, arms, or legs that could restore mobility. However, these devices have struggled to match the precision of real hands. Now, a new study has found a way to improve this. Scientists trained monkeys to control a virtual hand using their brain signals. They focused on signals that represent hand postures, rather than movement speed. This approach led to more accurate control of the virtual hand. The researchers believe this finding could revolutionize hand prostheses. By bridging damaged nerve connections and decoding brain signals, future neuroprostheses could offer fine motor skills like never before. This means people with disabilities might one day regain the ability to perform everyday tasks with ease. But how did the scientists figure this out? They used rhesus monkeys for their experiment because these animals have similar nervous and visual systems to humans, along with strong fine motor skills. The monkeys were first trained to move a virtual hand on a screen. Then, they learned to control the virtual hand just by imagining different grips. The key to success was adapting the algorithm that translates brain signals into movements. Instead of just focusing on the destination of a movement, the algorithm also considered the path taken to get there. This led to impressive results, with the virtual hand movements closely matching real ones. This study opens up exciting possibilities. By focusing on hand postures, future brain-computer interfaces could significantly improve the functionality of hand prostheses. This could greatly enhance the quality of life for many people.