Scientists restore movement to paralysed monkeys – in operation which could help cure people with damaged spines

TWO paralysed monkeys were allowed to walk again - in an operation which could help cure people with damaged spines.

Scientists implanted neural chips in the monkeys' brains, which wirelessly transmitted signals that stimulated their leg muscles.

It is believed to be the first time such a device has restored movement to the legs of non-human primates.

Scientists hope the research will pave the way for breakthroughs in treating people with spinal cord injuries.

Dr David Borton, from Brown University in the US, said: "The system we have developed uses signals recorded from the motor cortex of the brain to trigger co-ordinated electrical stimulation of nerves in the spine that are responsible for locomotion.

"With the system turned on, the animals in our study had nearly normal locomotion."