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Summary: Two monkeys were able to learn to perform specific movements in response to microelectrode stimulation at corresponding (arbitrarily chosen) loci in th
by allenz 9y ago
Summary: Two monkeys were able to learn to perform specific movements in response to microelectrode stimulation at corresponding (arbitrarily chosen) loci in the premotor cortex. The stimulation was too low to directly drive muscle movements.
The brain can learn to recognize signals from cochlear implants and other neuroprosthetics, and this study shows that monkeys can also learn to recognize signals from deeper implants. Note that previous studies have suggested that the premotor cortex has a role in associating stimuli and movements: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premotor_cortex#PMDr(F7) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premotor_cortex#PMDr(F7)
The researchers speculate that the stimulation "may have evoked somatosensory and/or visual percepts, desires to move particular body parts, or other internal urges or thoughts, any of which the monkeys could have used as instructions".
- Balgair 9y agoHow long did the experiment last for? Were they able to replicate the results in the same monkeys at a later date, or was this only for a month or so?
- allenz 9y agoThey only say that they performed nearly 200 sessions per monkey, where each session involves multiple movement task trials. You would have to contact the author for details: mschiebe@ur.rochester.edu They don't report testing whether the learned associations persist, although that would certainly be interesting.
- Balgair 9y agoI was more interested in the 'decay' of the electrodes over months, i.e. can these be chronic implants that work. Still, thanks for the info!