Monkey See, Monkey Think About Doing

摘要

For years, researchers have dreamed of devising prosthetic devices that paralyzed people could operate by brain signals alone. So far, patients' brain waves (electroencephalogram recordings) have controlled simple computer programs, and robots and cursors have moved under the guidance of brain cells that dictate motion (Science, 24 January 2003, p. 496). Until now, however, nobody has succeeded in tapping the messages of higher-order neurons involved in planning and motivation for potential use in prosthetics.