Paralysed man able to stand and walk with an aid after doctors implant device

A man who was paralysed in a cycling accident in 2011 has been able to stand and walk with an aid after doctors implanted a device that reads brain waves and sends instructions to the spine to activate the right muscles. Subscribe to Guardian News on YouTube ► Gert-Jan Oskam, 40, was told he would never walk again after breaking his neck in a traffic accident in China, but has climbed stairs and walked for more than 100m at a time since having the operation. The ’digital bridge’ is the latest from a team of neuroscientists in Switzerland who have a longstanding programme to develop brain-machine interfaces to overcome paralysis. The project aims to use wireless signals to reconnect the brain with muscles that are rendered useless when spinal cord nerves are broken. The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► Sign up to the Guardian’s free new daily newsletter, First Edition ► Website ► Facebook ► Twitter ► Instagram ► The Guardian on YouTube:  The Guardian ► Guardian Australia ► Guardian Football ► Guardian Sport ► Guardian Live ► #Paralysis #Science #Neuroscience #Muscles #BrainWaves #Rehabilitation