Neural Prosthetics

Devices that interface directly with the nervous system to restore or supplement lost sensory, motor, or cognitive functions. Neural prosthetics can be input devices (reading neural signals to control external equipment, as in brain-computer interfaces) or output devices (stimulating neural tissue to produce sensations or movements, as in cochlear implants or functional electrical stimulation systems). In accessibility, neural prosthetics represent the most direct form of assistive technology — bypassing damaged peripheral nerves or muscles entirely to connect the brain directly to computers, robotic limbs, or communication devices.