Moving objects with the mind may seem unbelievable, but it's actually what happens every time we move our body. The brain sends electrical signals to the muscles, which in turn produce movement such as walking or breathing.

This process has led scientists to think that tracking and interpreting the electrical signals can allow the thinker to control things beyond the body. Indeed, a recent technology using electrodes linked to the scalp is enabling people to move objects with their thoughts.

Elderly and disabled people have been the first to benefit from this technology. One system, developed in Japan, lets brain signals move a wheelchair. In the United States, scientists are testing brain-wave devices to help paralyzed patients. One device allows patients to control a robotic arm that can grab objects the user wants. Another, connected to a cast wrapped around the user's arm, produces repeated motions through the user's thoughts to retrain the damaged brain. Even more amazing is the thought-controlled robot created by Swiss scientists. Through a head cap and computers, paralyzed users can command their robot with their mind from one hundred miles away—similar to something that would happen in the film Avatar!

利用意志來移動物品似乎令人難以置信,但卻是每次我們移動身體時實際發生的事。大腦會傳遞電子信號給肌肉,進而產生走路或呼吸之類的動作。

這樣的過程讓科學家認為追蹤並轉譯這些電子信號可以讓人用思考來控制身體以外的事物。事實上,最近有一項科技利用將電極連接到頭皮上,讓人用自己的想法來移動物品。

年長者和殘障人士是首批受益於這項科技的人。有一套在日本開發出來的系統能讓腦波信號移動輪椅。在美國,科學家正在測試腦波裝置以協助癱瘓的病人。其中一項裝置讓病人能夠控制機械手臂,拿取使用者想要的物品。另一項裝置則連到使用者手臂上裹著的石膏,透過使用者的思緒產生重複性的動作,以重新訓練受損的大腦。更令人稱奇的是由瑞士科學家創造出來的機器人,可用思想來控制。透過頭罩和電腦,癱瘓的使用者可以在一百英里以外用意志來指揮機器人──就像電影《阿凡達》中發生的劇情。

文章出處:Live互動英語雜誌

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