'Braingate' Helps People With Paralysis Control Computers, Play Piano With Their Minds

Researchers in Boston and at Brown University, as a part of the research project "Braingate," are using a tiny brain implant to allow severely paralyzed or "locked-in" patients to move a computer cursor with their minds.

The Braingate device picks up non-verbal commands, allowing a person to e-chat, stream music, surf the web, and even play a virtual piano.

Carey Goldberg, host of WBUR's CommonHealth blog, which tweets @commonhealth.