Experimental Brain Implant Restores Touch and Movement in Paralyzed Man

Keith Thomas, a 48-year-old man who became paralyzed from the neck down due to a diving accident in 2020, has regained the ability to feel and grasp objects through an experimental brain implant created by researchers at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in New York. The findings, published in Nature Medicine on July 16, detail a double neural bypass surgery performed in 2023, during which five electrode arrays were inserted into Thomas's motor and sensory cortexes, complemented by stimulation patches on his spinal cord and forearm. A machine learning algorithm successfully decoded his brain signals with 85% accuracy, translating them into electrical impulses that facilitated movement. After 35 weeks, his arm strength improved by 86% on the right and 62% on the left. Notably, these improvements remained for months after the system was deactivated, indicating neuroplasticity. Thomas is now able to pet his dog, feed himself, and handle fragile items like eggshells without breaking them. While experts warn that these results may not apply to everyone, this study represents a significant advancement in brain-computer interfaces.