Restoring motor functions to paralyzed patients is more than a theory; it is an objective to be achieved in the future. Scientists have experimented once more with brainpower, by successfully training two monkeys to reach for food by controlling a mechanical arm with the power of thought.

The study, which will appear in the online edition of the journal Nature, shows how people with spinal cord injuries or disabilities could benefit from some sort of prosthetic device, which they’ll hopefully be able to control with their brain.

Ultimately, scientists need to understand brain complexity, as Andrew Schwartz, ph.D., senior author and professor of neurobiology at the University of Pittsburg School of Medicine pointed out.

Unlike other previous studies that focused on the ability to control a cursor on a computer screen, Dr. Schwartz and his team focused on the monkey’s ability to use the robotic arm as it would normally do, by using brain signals.

With the help of microelectrodes implanted in the monkey’s brain, the signals sent by the brain have been redirected to a computer, which controls the robotic arm. The neurons’ activity is redirected to the robotic arm with the help of a mathematic algorithm.

According to the researchers, the monkeys tend to consider the robotic arm as their real arm. The monkeys were thus able to grab marshmallows and fruits from a skewer and direct them to their mouth simply by using their brain.

The monkeys began by slowly observing the movement and learning to control it. In just several days, they managed to control the arm with no additional help.

As Dr. Schwartz explained, this experiment, which uses the brain-machine interface technology, will provide future tools to treat a wide range of brain disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, paralysis, Alzheimer’s disease, and why not, even mental illnesses.