How the brain turns sight and touch into movement
Sensory Motor Transformations in Human Cortex
Using tiny brain implants, researchers aim to turn visual and touch signals into movement commands to help people with paralysis control prosthetic devices or their limbs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134590 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would receive small microelectrode arrays implanted in three brain areas—primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, and posterior parietal cortex—to both record neural activity and deliver brief microstimulation. During sessions, researchers will ask you to imagine or attempt reaches and perform visually guided tasks while they map how sensory information becomes movement signals. The recorded signals will be used to drive neural prosthetic devices and the stimulation will be tested to restore touch during grasp and manipulation. Participants (mostly people with tetraplegia from spinal cord injury) will take part in training and repeated follow-up visits over several years as the system is refined.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with tetraplegia from spinal cord injury who are medically eligible for cortical implant surgery and willing to participate in long-term training and follow-up.
Not a fit: People without paralysis, those who are not surgical candidates (for example due to bleeding risk or other medical issues), or those with widespread cortical degeneration may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve control of prosthetic limbs and restore meaningful touch sensations for people with severe paralysis.
How similar studies have performed: Previous brain–computer interface research has enabled some paralyzed volunteers to control robotic arms and regain partial sensations, but combining recording and stimulation across motor, sensory, and parietal cortex at this scale is more extensive and relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Pasadena, United States
- California Institute of Technology — Pasadena, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Andersen, Richard a — California Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Andersen, Richard a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.