Brain Implant Could Restore Memories

Brain implants are not the easiest medical procedure in the world, but their benefits can be extraordinary if done right. For instance, we have seen how a boy hears for the first time in his life after a successful implant, while a different implant did explore the possibility of helping those who have spinal cord injuries to walk again. This time around, highly secretive US military researchers have revealed that they are working on huge and new advances concerning a brain implant which could eventually help restore one’s memory.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is working on a four year plan to develop a sophisticated memory stimulator, where it so happens to be a part of President Barack Obama’s $100 million initiative to understand the human brain in a deeper level. The potential for a breakthrough or success in this department is huge. Who knows? Those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease could be restored to full health, and those who have sustained traumatic brain injuries in the theater of war might go through a reconstruction process that will restore their lost memories in due time.

DARPA program manager Justin Sanchez shared, “If you have been injured in the line of duty and you can’t remember your family, we want to be able to restore those kinds of functions. We think that we can develop neuroprosthetic devices that can directly interface with the hippocampus, and can restore the first type of memories we are looking at, the declarative memories.”

Edwin Kee
Categories: Medical
Tags: implant