Known as functional electrical stimulation or FES, these electrodes are key to restoring movement in his finger and thumb, wrist, elbow and shoulders. The Cleveland Functional Electrical Stimulation Center , of which Ajiboye is a part, first developed electrical stimulation technology for reanimating paralyzed function nearly 30 years ago. Essentially, the technology circumvents the spinal injury feeding the electrical stimulation of his brain through wires to the electrodes in his arm. "Stimulation of nerves or the spinal cord, rather than muscles, and more sophisticated stimulation technology may provide substantial improvements," wrote Perlmutter. Although other labs have worked with non-human primates or partially paralyzed participants, his study helped someone who is completely paralyzed.

Source: CNN March 29, 2017 00:56 UTC