Monkeys' Brainwaves Control Robotic Arm (VIDEO) (PICTURES)

In an experiment straight out of a science fiction novel, scientists have trained monkeys to control a robotic arm with their brainwaves:

Scientists have trained monkeys to control a robotic arm using the power of their thoughts. The research, which involved wiring electrodes into the animals' brains, is aimed at producing controllable prosthetic limbs for patients with stroke, spinal cord injuries or neurodegenerative conditions.

The monkeys learned to feed themselves using the robotic arm and performed subtle movements such as approaching the food with the arm so as not to knock it over. The researchers believe the animals began to regard the arm as part of their own body.

Scientists have previously taught monkeys and human subjects to control a cursor on a screen or a simple grasping hand via their brain activity, but this is the first time experimenters have demonstrated that it is possible to perform complex behavioural tasks this way.

Watch one of the monkeys feed itself using the thought-controlled robotic arm:

Scroll down for photos (from the Daily Mail).