A man paralyzed from the chest down has maintained improved hand movement and sensation for months after researchers turned off his brain stimulation system. The finding points to lasting changes in his nervous system.
Keith Thomas, 48, lost movement and feeling below the chest after a diving accident in July 2020. In 2023, surgeons at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in New York implanted five electrodes in his brain as part of a double neural bypass procedure. The system used Artificial Intelligence to translate his movement intentions into electrical stimulation of his arms and hands, while sensors provided feedback to restore a sense of touch.
Researchers had intended to pause the stimulation for one month to check for lasting effects. A building fire extended the interruption to three months. Thomas retained strength, finger control and the ability to feel pressure even when the device remained off.
Chad Bouton, who led the work, said the outcome was unexpected. Other experts noted that the single case shows potential for neuroplasticity but requires replication in more patients before broader conclusions can be drawn.
