Researchers at Osaka University are in the process of developing robotic body parts controlled by thought. They have placed electrode sheets directly on the surface of the brain. Neurosurgery professor Toshiki Yoshimine leads the team and the efforts indicate Japan's first foray into invasive (i.e. requiring open-skull surgery) brain-machine interface research on human test subjects. They endeavor has been embarked upon to develop real-time mind-controlled robotic limbs for the disabled. The researchers have already filed a license application with the Osaka University Hospital ethics board and are waiting to recruit volunteer test subjects who are willing to have brain electrodes implanted for monitoring epilepsy or other conditions. The team has worked with only 4 test subjects so far, to record brain wave activity generated as they move their arms, elbows and fingers.

Brain waves can be measured from outside the scalp but stronger, more accurate signal can be obtained by placing sensors directly on the brain. The procedure does not involve puncturing the cortex, places an electrode sheet at the central sulcus, a fold across the center of the brain near the primary motor cortex (which is responsible for planning and executing movements). Apparently the subjects so have managed to reach 80% accuracy in the intended activity, but now researchers want to use the data to control robot arms developed by the University of Tokyo's Department of Precision Engineering.

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