University of Washington - Seattle researchers recently showed that monkeys taught to play a computer game were able to overcome wrist paralysis with an experimental device that might lead to new treatments for patients with stroke and spinal cord injury. According to an Associated Press report, the monkeys regained use of paralyzed muscles by learning to control the activity of just a single brain cell. The device monitored the activity of a brain cell and used that as a cue to stimulate wrist muscles electrically.

More details on the research will be found in the November Medical Edge e-news. For a free subscription, visit http://medicaldesign.com/subscribe/newsletters/

To view a recent MSNBC broadcast about the research, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27200001#27200001

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