Experience of phantom limbs lets amputees control real replacements
An algorithm interprets the brain’s instructions to the phantom
IN THE EARLY 16th century a knight called Gottfried von Berlichingen spent decades marauding and feuding on behalf of the Holy Roman Empire. He conducted most of his career singlehandedly—the other having been blown off by a cannonball. To replace it he had a metal duplicate made, with spring-loaded fingers that could hold a sword, shield or the reins of his horse. This early prosthetic device gave him the nickname “Götz of the Iron Hand”.
This article appeared in the Science & technology section of the print edition under the headline “Ghost busters”
Science & technology December 1st 2018
- A maverick researcher claims to have created GM children
- A probe lands on Mars
- A species of spider that suckles its young
- A novel way to stop the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
- A vast study seeks to understand the genetic underpinnings of ADHD
- Experience of phantom limbs lets amputees control real replacements
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