[duccinator]

This is truly amazing. We are living in the future.

I wonder though, if the brain already has specific regions for control of specific parts of our body, will it be impossible to add new limbs in the future? An extra arm would be helpful.

[Traubenfuchs]

Brain plasticity to the rescue. There are examples of people being able to integrate completely new senses (vibrating compass belt) and controlling prosthesis with completely unrelated nerves.

But if you want to graft additional limbs to people, I highly recommend starting with baby aged humans already, their brain plasticity is unmatched. Imagine how much more fulfilment an amazon fulfilment center worker could bring with four arms! I should get Bezos on the phone.

https://www.carlosterminel.com/wearable-compass

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4196408/World-s-p...

[imtringued]

Equisapiens to the rescue!

[AtlasBarfed]

I'm kind of surprised that in 2023, some signal replicator bridge from one side of the spinal cord to the other side isn't a lot more straightforward. I mean we're doing neural implants and the like already.

But for the use case you say, I think it's more likely a robotic arm with AI / voice instruction would do that. Or a neural helmet.

[LightHugger]

I think people drastically overestimate modern medical technology. We are not advanced by any means. We are still just barely learning small pieces...

[epups]

> I'm kind of surprised that in 2023, some signal replicator bridge from one side of the spinal cord to the other side isn't a lot more straightforward.

The issue is that the spinal cord is a bundle of cables essentially, a lot of axons from individual neurons. If you sever it, finding the right connection is impossible, so you have to use more blunt tools like electrical stimulation of the whole bundle.

We are getting better and better at labeling individual cells, even at a molecular level. When we understand how to do that, we might be able to do as you propose. I think we will see some forms of paralysis reverted in the coming decades with technologies such as those.