Brain Implant Gives Blind Woman Artificial Vision in Scientific First

[PeteS in CA]

Brain Implant Gives Blind Woman Artificial Vision in Scientific First

https://www.sciencealert.com/a-brain-implant-has-allowed-a-blind-woman-to-see-simple-2d-shapes-and-letters

A 'visual prosthesis' implanted directly into the brain has allowed a blind woman to perceive two-dimensional shapes and letters for the first time in 16 years.

The US researchers behind this phenomenal advance in optical prostheses have recently published the results of their experiments, presenting findings that could help revolutionize the way we help those without sight see again.

At age 42, Berna Gomez developed toxic optic neuropathy, a deleterious medical condition that rapidly destroyed the optic nerves connecting her eyes to her brain.
...
Then, in 2018, at age 57, Gomez made a brave decision. She volunteered to be the very first person to have a tiny electrode with a hundred microneedles implanted into the visual region of her brain. The prototype would be no larger than a penny, roughly 4 mm by 4 mm, and it would be taken out again after six months.
...
After undergoing neurosurgery to implant the device in Spain, Gomez spent the next six months going into the lab every day for four hours to undergo tests and training with the new prosthesis.

The first two months were largely spent getting Gomez to differentiate between the spontaneous pinpricks of light she still occasionally sees in her mind, and the spots of light that were induced by direct stimulation of her prosthesis.

It's important to note that Gomez had had normal vision most of her life. That means that not only did her vision system work in a mechanical sense, but her brain also knew how to interpret the stimuli from her eyes. The brain of a person blind from birth does not have that knowledge. At best, that would be a much greater learning barrier for this to be useful to a person born blind.

[sneakypete]

At best, that would be a much greater learning barrier for this to be useful to a person born blind.

@PeteS in CA

Still,this is that famous "One tiny step that can lead to enormous gains in the future."

Once research scientists realize that something CAN be done,more of them will be working on that "something".