“Recent studies have shown that it is possible to create functional, bidirectional, real-time interfaces between living brain tissue and artificial devices. It is reasonable to predict that further research on brain–machine interfaces will lead to the development of a new generation of neuroprosthetic devices aimed at restoring motor functions in severely paralysed patients. In addition, I propose that such interfaces can become the core of a new experimental approach with which to investigate the operation of neural systems in behaving animals.”

Nature Reviews Neuroscience 4, 417 -422 (2003); doi:10.1038/ nrn1105