Orange County

New research by UCF’s Limbitless Solutions to test brain’s ability to adapt to bionic limbs

Limbitless Solutions UCF’s Limbitless Solutions will lead a new, first-of-its-kind clinical trial this spring to examine how the brain adapts to advanced, bionic arms in children born without a limb. (UCF / Nick Leyva)

ORLANDO, Fla. — UCF’s Limbitless Solutions will lead a new, first-of-its-kind clinical trial this spring to examine how the brain adapts to advanced, bionic arms in children born without a limb.

Officials said its ultimate goal is to improve children’s control of their prosthetics.

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The research will be done in partnership with Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville and Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville.

Officials said the four-month clinical trial will examine if Limbitless’ prosthetic, paired with its custom training video game, will impact the motor control center of the brain. Researchers will closely monitor any changes in the signals the brain sends to the muscle groups that direct the bionic arms’ movement.

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“It may provide new insight to how the brain’s motor cortex adapts to learning how to use our organic, or robotic, limbs,” said Albert Manero, executive director and co-founder of Limbitless Solutions.

To learn more about the program and to submit an application to receive information about the study, families are asked to apply here. The study is for children ages 9 to 12, and a maximum of five patients will be enrolled in the pilot study.

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Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.

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