The 28 year-old test subject was able to determine which mechanical finger was being touched whilst blindfolded, with total accuracy.

The identity of the patient has not been disclosed for privacy reasons, however a DARPA press release states that he was left paralyzed due to severe spinal injuries. In the past, test subjects have been able to manipulate prostheses via thought alone, but the technology had been a one-way street. An individual could send signals to the hand from the brain in order to control the prosthesis but received no tactile sensory data in return, making it difficult to direct precise movements.

The new study takes the science of prosthetic technology to a new level, allowing two-way communication between a mechanical hand and its user. The feat was accomplished by running wires connected to electrodes on the patient's sensory cortex (the part of the brain responsible for identifying tactile sensations) and motor cortex (the part that directs body movements) to the prosthesis.