One giant leap
Scientists in the US have made an amazing breakthrough. They've shown that a brain implant could dramatically improve the outlook for patients with a severe head injury.
Before surgery, their patient was fed through a tube and could only communicate sporadically, by moving his eyes or his thumb. Now he can speak clearly using short phrases, move his limbs and be fed by mouth.
For the scientists, the moment they realised the patient was responding to the brain implant was electric.
| 
The electrodes were implanted deep in the patient's brain, in an area called the central thalamus.
Image: Cleveland Clinic |
|
