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Paraplegics who learned to control an Iron Man-like exoskeleton with their thoughts appeared to regain some feeling and function in their legs as a result of the training regimen, according to a new study. The study, published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports, describes how a year of training enabled participants with spinal cord injuries to recover some sensation, voluntary muscle contraction, and control over bowel function — evidence of neurological recovery that the authors were not expecting. Four of the eight participants had their paralysis reclassified to a less severe level, although they still do not have control over most of their leg muscles. (Joseph, 8/11)

Researchers in Brazil who are trying to help people with spine injuries gain mobility have made a surprising discovery: Injured people doing brain training while interacting with robot-like machines were able to regain some sensation and movement. The findings, published in Scientific Reports (one of the Nature journals), suggest that damaged spinal tissue in some people with paraplegia can be retrained to a certain extent — somewhat the way certain people can regain some brain function following stroke though repetition and practice. In fact, this isn't a new idea for treating injuries of the spinal cord. Even people with severe injuries can regain some sensation and function through physical therapy if some nerve fibers remain. (Harris, 8/11)