How a Paralyzed Man Moved a Robotic Arm with His Thoughts
A paralyzed man was able to move a robotic arm and fingers simply by imagining himself doing so, with the help of brain signals decoded through a computer.

University of California San Francisco
Give to UCSFA paralyzed man was able to move a robotic arm and fingers simply by imagining himself doing so, with the help of brain signals decoded through a computer.
Why do women's brains fare better in aging than men's? A study found that the second, 'silent' X chromosome turns on in the brain of old female mice and improves learning and memory – opening new paths to slow the decline in men and women.
Martin Kampmann, PhD, and Anna Victoria Molofsky, MD, PhD, are the 2025 recipients of the Bowes Biomedical Investigator award, which supports scientists who take novel approaches and have the potential to make significant contributions to biomedicine. Recipients receive $1.25 million over five years.
How did humans evolve brains capable of complex language, civilization, and more? Scientists at UC San Francisco recently found that parts of our chromosomes have evolved at breakneck speeds to give us an edge in brain development compared to apes.
The FDA has approved an adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) treatment for people with with Parkinson’s disease, making this groundbreaking technology available to people nationwide.
UCSF scientists have found that some cancers, like brain cancer, make unique, jumbled proteins that make them stand out. These newly recognized cancer-specific proteins, or antigens, could speed the development of potent immunotherapies that recognize and attack hard-to-treat tumors.
A study found that B12 requirements may be too low for some people, putting them at risk for cognitive decline.
A new EPA ban on TCE, a common industrial cleaning agent and contaminant, begins this year. UCSF’s Samuel Goldman, who led groundbreaking research to link TCE to Parkinson’s Disease, talks about the health risks.
Delayed REM sleep was found to be linked to higher Alzheimer’s risk. Healthy sleep habits and treatments may help mitigate risks.
Researchers found that female mice using only maternal X chromosomes showed faster cognitive decline, which could help explain the variation in brain aging between the sexes.
A new study found that menopause can speed up the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting mobility and cognitive ability.
A new study paints one of the most detailed pictures of human brain development to date, opening the door to new tests and therapies, including for brain disorders such as autism.
A digital twin of a human mind? It isn’t science fiction.
Insights from human evolution could change how we understand and treat illness.
UCSF scientists are uncovering the brain mechanisms behind resilience to stress and exploring new, non-invasive treatments for depression through groundbreaking research in mice.
Nearly 50 UCSF researchers have been named to Clarivate’s list of most influential scientists for 2024.
A technique involving the use of light pulses to prevent seizure-like activity in neurons could one day become a new, non-invasive treatment for epilepsy.
An AI-based diagnostic system reveals cancerous tissue that may not otherwise be visible during brain tumor surgery. This enables neurosurgeons to remove it while the patient is still under anesthesia – or treat it afterwards with targeted therapies.
A decade-long effort has resulted in a new, rapid genomic test to diagnose rare infectious diseases in the brain and lungs.
In June, UCSF treated its first patient with E-SYNC, its first homegrown CAR-T therapy, one of the first to show promise in treating certain types of brain cancers. This story builds on previous coverage to provide an overview of CAR-T therapy, accessibility and future horizons of applications in cancer and other illnesses like HIV.
Scientists from Duke, UCSF, and City of Hope used cryo-EM to reveal how our noses detect a wide range of odors, offering insights into olfaction.
Poor sleep in midlife, like difficulty falling asleep or waking early, may accelerate brain atrophy linked to dementia, a UCSF study finds.
David Julius and Wendy Yue have discovered a natural mechanism that could help reduce scarring after a spinal cord injury.
A clinical trial that will test three drugs concurrently, and could include more, represents new hope for patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that usually kills within seven years after symptoms start.
A new video-based symptom assessment system for Parkinson’s Disease that is enabled by machine learning represents a potential solution to the challenge of assessing Parkinson’s Disease progression in a quantifiable way.