Science Questions

Would the implants you are talking about help people with MS? Louise

It could help make their lives a lot better, even if it can't cure them. In some cases, the brain can be functioning ok but the signals just can't get through to their destination. The implants could take the signals to where they are going and hence bring back movements and restore functions. Some people have had brain implants that allow them to control the cursor on a screen by connecting the thought about moving the cursor to the movement of the hand. Improvements on this could allow people to drive cars, make coffee and call people on their mobile phones; things they might not have been able to do otherwise. So in answer to the question, I think there are enormous possibilities but there are not enough people doing research in this area.

January 2005