MEDICINE

Scientists Aim for ‘Prosthetic Exoskeleton’

Would enable paralyzed to walk.

Scientists at Duke University say they may soon be able to create a “prosthetic exoskeleton” that would allow paralyzed people to walk again. The announcement came after a breakthrough in which monkeys were able to distinguish various textures grazed by filaments wired directly to their brains. The monkeys were able to sense differences in the textures of three identical circles. The breakthrough provides sensory feedback that could be combined with earlier experiments demonstrating monkeys could command machines with their brains. The Duke scientists say they hope to enable a quadriplegic person to walk to midfield on the first day of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.