Post by @rowancheung

A man who broke his neck diving into a pool in 2020 lost all movement and sensation below his chest. Researchers at the Feinstein Institutes implanted five electrode arrays in his brain (two in the motor region, three in the sensory region) creating what they call a "double neural bypass." An AI decoder reads his intent to move and stimulates the muscles in his own arm. Force sensors on his fingers trigger stimulation in his sensory cortex, so he can feel what he touches. A reinforcement learning agent regulates his grip, letting him lift a hollow eggshell without crushing it. The system also rewired him permanently. His elbow strength is up 86 percent, and newly restored wrist sensation is still present after two years. Study: A neuroprosthesis for restoring hand movement and sensation in a person with complete tetraplegia (Nature Medicine, 2026) DOI: 10.1038/s41591-026-04498-0