In his lecture on Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR),
Dr. Gregory A Dumanian explained amputees can have their nerves, which are
still functioning even after the loss of the limb, and reattach them into
larger muscle groups. This is exercised as when a limb is lost, the nerves that
are associated with that limb are still functioning and receiving neuronal signals.
Because these signals have nowhere to go, the ends of the neurons swell up and
cause severe pain to the individual. The expression of these signals account for
the phantom limb sensation. The phantom limb sensation are the feelings that an
individual experiences in regards to a limb or organ that is not physically
part of the body. Fortunately, Dr. Dumanian was able to use TMR to prevent the
pains by reinnervating them into muscles, such as the pectoral muscle in the chest.
In doing so, patients were able to regain full sensory and mobile abilities
when a prosthetic limb was attached in place of the amputated limb. Upon
attachment of the prosthetic limb, patients were able to regain their mobility.
What is astonishing is that when moving their limb, they were not doing
anything special. They simply reported that they imagined their arm moving, and
due to TMR, the prosthetic was functioning as though it were the original arm.
As seen with Melissa Loomis from Ohio, who lost her
arm when she tried to separate her pets from fighting with a raccoon. The arm
that was given to her was advanced high technology. “It designed to integrate
with the body and use the brain’s natural neurotransmissions for control.” (Moncrieffe).
As seen with the TMR in Dr. Dumanian’s presentation, the stimulation cap
processed the electric signals directly from the nerves to the prosthetic. This
is what reactivated the pathways that originally were there with her original
arm. As these pathways are reawakened, there is minimal, if not any, learning
involved with the prosthetic as it is all based on what is there with muscle
memory and the nerves telling the prosthetic the action it needs to perform.
What is even more interesting here is how Mike McLoughlin, a chief engineer of
Research and Exploratory Development Department at APL managed to bring back
the sense of touch to Loomis. This involved placement of 100 sensors in the arm
to send feedback through the reinnervated nerves, thus allowing Loomis to
experience her sense of touch.
In creation of this prosthetic, the main focus for
McLoughlin was to ensure to the patient that they were controlling the
prosthetic, and not the other way around. Loomis describes how natural it was
for her to just motion her making a fist and having witness the prosthetic to
the same was amazing. With this innovation, McLoughlin wishes to further ease
the process of adding a prosthetic limb to the body through noninvasive
techniques. The sole purpose of the prosthetic to begin with it is to bring
back mobility and sensory abilities to those who have lost them. Future aims
also include cost reductions for patients to afford such high tech prosthetics.
Works Cited
Chang,
James, MD. Hand and Upper Extremity.
Third ed. Vol. Six. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. Plastic
Surgery.
Moncrieffe,
Michelle V. "New prosthetic invention lets users reclaim their sense of
touch."
Medical Xpress - medical
research advances and health news. Medical Xpress, 24 Mar. 2017. Web. 03
May 2017.
MotherboardTV.
"The Mind-Controlled Bionic Arm With a Sense of Touch." YouTube.
YouTube, 18 Aug. 2016. Web. 03 May 2017.
Hello, my name is Lane M. Lasarsky and I am currently enrolled at Loyola University of Chicago. This article is fascinating in the fact that it is bridging the gap between computer and man. This is the technological advancement that neuroscience is a part of as well, that might not get as much of attention, but is just as important. On the week of September 26th, I had attended a neuroscience seminar with guest speaker, Mark Albert, PhD. His lecture was on the concept of computational neuroscience and the areas surrounding it, as well as the implication of how important it can be to upcoming neuroscientists. This article reminded me of the future he had spoken about during his lecture, and that this field is growing ever increasingly. We can see how in the health industry it is growing tremendously with bioinformatics and with the advancement of radiological machinery. That is why in this article it describes how the technology helps alleviate mental and physical pain, with the use of constructed bioinformatics technology. This will and does change people’s lives, and is important in understanding the connection between the growth of both fields being neuroscience and computer science. There will be a great need for job marketplace for those who have a background in computer science, and who wish to be a part of the neuroscience community.
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