Can thought-control technology be used to overcome physical paralysis?

A man paralysed from the shoulders down can now raise his arm to eat, thanks to neuroprosthetic implants - and there is hope that the technology will help many others in the future

Is it possible to overcome paralysis by harnessing thoughts?
A man who was paralysed from the shoulders down after a bicycle accident in which he ploughed into the back of a mail truck is now able to move his arm for the first time in eight years, thanks to thought-control technology, also known as neuroprosthetics. "He can now think about moving his arm, and his arm moves," said Robert Kirsch, a professor of biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, who was involved in the research.

Using sensors implanted in his brain and electrodes in his arm, the patient is now able to carry out a range of tasks, from drinking through a straw to eating pretzels, and even feeding himself mashed potato with a fork.