Small Study of Parkinson's patients may assist the development of a Brain Pacemaker Which May Help Spinal Cord Patients

[John Cottingham <jcott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The source of this article is WNCT-TV9: 

Small Study of Parkinson's patients may assist the development of a Brain 
Pacemaker Which May Help Spinal Cord Patients
Aug 3, 2004
Marti Skold

Motor Paralysis
The spinal cord is a network of nerve fibers that run the length of the spine 
from the brain down to about the waist. Nerve signals travel back and forth 
through the spinal cord, allowing the brain to ?communicate? with the rest of 
the body.

When the spinal cord is injured, the communications pathway is disrupted. Like 
a disconnected telephone line, transmission of nerve signals in the area at and 
below the point of injury is cut off. The closer the injury is to the top of 
the spinal cord, the greater the loss of function. Paraplegia is the loss of 
sensation and/or movement in the lower parts of the body. Depending upon the 
exact location and degree of injury, the condition may affect the feet, legs, 
hips, stomach and/or chest. Tetraplegia (also called quadriplegia) is the loss 
of sensation in the lower and upper areas of the body.

According to the Spinal Cord Injury Information Network, about 243,000 
Americans are living with some degree of spinal cord injury (SCI). About 11,000 
new cases occur every year. The most common cause of SCI is a motor vehicle 
crash (nearly 41 percent of cases), followed by falls (22.4 percent), acts of 
violence (21.6 percent ? primarily gunshot wounds) and recreational sports 
activities.

Pathways to the Brain
When a spinal cord injury occurs, the signals to and from the brain are healthy 
and intact, but can?t get through. Researchers are searching for ways to 
regenerate spinal tissue and restore the connection, but it will be many years 
before treatments may become available. In the meantime, some investigators are 
looking at other ways to restore some degree of motor control to paralyzed 
patients.

One new technology is a brain-machine interface. Scientists have learned how to 
enable computers to analyze and interpret brain electrical signals that control 
motor function. Those signals could then be used to control a mechanical device.

At Duke University, researchers attached electrodes to the heads of monkeys. 
The brain signals from the monkeys were fed into a computer, which used the 
signals to control the motion of a robot arm. The monkeys eventually learned 
how to control the arm of the robot and play the video game solely by thought.

In a small human study, researchers placed an array of 32 tiny electrodes into 
the brains of 11 Parkinson?s patients. Then, researchers recorded the brain?s 
electrical signals while the participants squeezed a ball to control play in a 
video game. By analyzing the signals, the investigators could effectively 
predict the degree of grip strength.

Much work still needs to be done. Eventually, scientists hope to be able to 
develop a method to accurately enable humans to control a mechanized device 
using brain signals. The technology may help a patient to control a wheelchair, 
grasp an object or, with the aid of special body armor or suits, walk or move a 
prosthetic arm.



AUDIENCE INQUIRY
For general information on spinal cord injury and paralysis:
Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, 
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 

The National Spinal Cord Injury Association, 
Spinal Cord Injury Information Network, 

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