Motor · Long-term stability
Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain–spine interface
- Authors
- Lorach H … Courtine G34 authors
- Institution
- EPFL / Lausanne University Hospital; Clinatec, CEA / CHU Grenoble Alpes
- Publication
- NatureNature 2023;618(7963):126–133 · 24 May 2023
- Status
- Primary source
The 60-second view
- What problem?
- Spinal cord injury severs the link between the brain's commands and the spinal circuits that produce walking.
- What did they do?
- Connected implanted cortical recorders to epidural spinal stimulation so that intended leg movement modulates stimulation in real time.
- What changed?
- Calibrated in minutes, stable for over a year including independent use at home, and associated with neurological recovery.
- Why does it matter?
- It points to a second purpose for BCIs beyond device control — re-engaging the body's own circuits and promoting recovery.
Method
- Participants
- One man with chronic tetraplegia
- Interface
- Two fully implanted wireless epidural recorders plus an epidural spinal stimulator
- Signal
- Epidural electrocorticography
- Task
- Standing, walking, stairs and uneven terrain in community settings
- Decoder
- Adaptive decoding of intended leg movement driving stimulation amplitude
- Training
- Calibrated within a few minutes
Results
- 1
- Participants
- A few minutes
- Calibration
- Stable over 1 year
- Reliability
- Including independent use at home
Strength of evidencePeer reviewed, one participant, one year of follow-up.
Figures are quoted from the published abstract and were checked on 3 Oct 2026.
Limitations
- One participant.
- Requires two implanted systems and supporting wearable hardware.
What this could enable
BCI as a rehabilitation therapy: the participant regained some ability to walk with crutches even with the system off.
Primary source
- 01
Lorach H et al. Nature 2023;618(7963):126–133 (opens in a new tab)
Peer reviewedNature24 May 2023Checked against source 3 Oct 2026
DOI 10.1038/s41586-023-06094-5