Heres a storywith a slight Cyborg ring to it:Animplantable brain device that can potentially restore the memory of patients with traumatic brain injury, Alzheimers disease, epilepsy and relatedconditions is being developed at the governments Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The technology sits at the nexus of human, neuron-based memory and digital, computer chip-based memory: The device is implanted intotheentorhinal cortex and hippocampus the portions of the brain associated with memory. It then uses real-time recording and closed-loop stimulation of neural tissues to bridge gaps in the injured brain and restore a persons ability to create new memories and access old ones. The labs goal is to build an implantable prototype that can begin clinical testing by 2017; Medtronic and the University of California, Los Angeles are collaborating on the research and design. The program just receivedup to $2.5 million fromDARPAs Restoring Active Memory program. Its actually part of President Obamas BRAIN Initiative that last year tasked researchers to really delve deep into the inner workings of the noggin. DARPAs aptly named RAM program actually focuses most on traumatic brain injury, which has been diagnosed in some 270,000 servicemen since 2000. Currently, there is no effective treatment for memory loss resulting from … Continue reading →

FAMILY members of Toowoomba man Joel Shepherd are ecstatic with the results of his first round of reverse stroke therapy. Mr Shepherd, 26, is in the US with his mother Coralie Graham and siblings to undergo perispinal Etanercept treatment. It is hoped the drug will reduce swelling on a brain injury he incurred as a three-year-old boy. Community members have rallied around the family, helping to raise money for the expensive treatment. WHAT'S ONLINE TODAY: Hospital staff pay tribute to doctor lost in MH17 disaster Residents shocked that three-hour parking existed for 14 years Mother issues desperate plea for daughter come home Rapist acquitted of knife-point rape in van Mr Shepherd's sister Susan Graham-Ryan yesterday had good news. Link: Reverse stroke treatment has family crying tears of joy … Continue reading →