Blind could see again if brain implants in monkeys that use electrodes to bypass the eyes can be adapted for humans
- The idea of electrically stimulating the brain so it ‘sees’ is not new, but had been held back by the lack of suitable technology. Scientists have overcome this
- Human users of the technology might wear a camera, glasses or visor that sends patterns to the brain’s visual cortex; a wireless solution is the ultimate goal
Scientists are a step closer to restoring vision for the blind, after building an implant that bypasses the eyes and allows monkeys to perceive artificially induced patterns in their brains.
The technology, developed by a team at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN), was described in the journal Science.
It builds on an idea conceived decades ago: electrically stimulating the brain so it “sees” dots of light known as phosphenes, akin to pixels on a computer screen. Technical limitations meant that concept was never realised.
NIN director Pieter Roelfsema led a team that developed implants consisting of 1,024 electrodes wired into the visual cortex of two sighted monkeys, resulting in a much higher resolution than has previously been achieved.
The visual cortex is located at the back of the brain and many of its features are common to humans and other primates.