2 . A man paralyzed (瘫痪的) in 2011 has regained the ability to stand and walk with the help of implants (植入物) placed in his brain and spinal cord.
The patient, Gert-Jan Oskam, was told he would never walk again after a biking accident. Now, using the implants, “we’ve read the thoughts of Oskam and translated these thoughts into stimulation (刺激) of the spinal cord to reestablish voluntary movement,” said Grégoire Courtine, a neuroscientist in Switzerland.
The technology enables natural control over the movements of Oskam’s legs and he can walk and stand without support. “Months ago, I was able, for the first time after over ten years, to stand up and have a beer with my friends,” Oskam says. “That was pretty cool.”
The new technique involved placing two implants in Oskam’s brain. When he wants to move, the implants read his brain signals and send that information to sensors on a device on his head. A computer uses these signals to predict how Oskam intends to move, then turns his intentions into commands and sends these commands to another implant in the spinal cord. Finally, the spinal implant stimulates Oskam’s muscles according to his intended movement. Through this “digital bridge”, the researchers re-opened a line of communication between Oskam’s brain and spinal cord.
For now, the device is still at the experimental stage. Next, the researchers would like to be able to make the device’s hardware, which Oskam carries in a backpack, more compact (小巧). Harvey Sihota, CEO of the U.K. Charity Spinal Research, says the technology still has a long way to go before becoming available to the public, but the results are “very encouraging”.
1. How might Oskam feel after the implants were put in?
| A．Cheerful. | B．Secure. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Uncomfortable. |
2. What provides direct stimulation to Oskam’s muscles in the new technique?
| A．The brain implants. | B．Sensors on his head. |
| C．A computer. | D．The spinal implant. |
3. What are the researchers most likely to do next concerning the device?
| A．Mass-produce it. | B．Improve its hardware. |
| C．Explore its other functions. | D．Test it on a larger sample size. |
4. What can be the best title for the text?
| A．Brain Implants Cure Paralyzed Man Completely |
| B．Paralyzed Man Walks Again Using His Thoughts |
| C．Digital Bridge Connects Paralyzed Men Closely |
| D．New Technology Offers Hope For Biking Accident Victims |
