A sixth finger can prove extra handy
An extra finger can be incredibly handy. Two people born with six fingers per hand can tie their shoes, deftly manage phones and play a complicated video game — all with a single hand. What’s more, their brains had no trouble controlling the more complex movements of their extra digits, a new study finds.
Extra fingers are not that rare. About one or two in every 1,000 babies are born with extra digits. If the extras are just small nubs, they may be surgically removed at birth. But some extra fingers can prove helpful, the new study shows. Its results also highlight how flexible the human brain can be. That info can guide people who design brain-controlled robotic appendages. Etienne Burdet is one of those people. He’s a bioengi… Continue Reading (3 minute read)