Monkeys control robots

I came across the following story while reading the newspaper today. I found it to be quite impressive indeed. Its seems to me that if more people had the ability to act in a similar fashion to the hero of the story then the world would be a much better place.

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Monkeys control robots with brain power

May 29, 2008 - 9:41AM

Scientists have trained monkeys to manipulate a robotic arm solely with brain power and could soon help amputees and paralysed stroke victims do the same.

Immobilised monkeys with electrode filaments inserted into their cerebral cortext learned within days to reach out with the free-standing prosthesis, pluck a tasty morsel with a pincer-like claw and pop it in their mouths.

When the path of the arm, positioned next to the shoulder, was deliberately blocked, the animals simply willed it around the obstacle with their minds.

Details of the research are published in the Nature journal.

AAP

http://www.smh.com.au/news/science/monkeys-show-brain-power/2008/05/29/1211654171158.html