Una serie di elettrodi sono stati impiantati per la prima volta direttamente nell'area del cervello dove nascono le "intenzioni" dei movimenti, permettendo così a un uomo tetraplegico di muovere un braccio robotico proprio come se fosse il suo. Il risultato, messo a punto da un gruppo di ricercatori californiani, è stato pubblicato sulla rivista Science.
Gli scienziati del Caltec sono riusciti leggere i movimenti di Erik G. Sorto, da 12 anni paralizzato, facendo compiere un balzo avanti nel settore delle "neuroprotesi": quelle realizzate finora, infatti, producono movimenti ritardati e a singhiozzo, mentre la nuova tecnologia dà un risultato più fluido e naturale.
I sensori sono stati impiantati chirurgicamente in due parti della corteccia posteriore parietale e poi connessi, tramite cavo, ad un sistema di computer che elabora i segnali e decodifica le intezioni. Già dal primo giorno il 34enne è riuscito a controllare il meccanismo con il pensiero, per poi migliorare sempre di più nel corso del tempo.
Ansa/px
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