A recent study by a team of University of Washington (UW) researchers, including the CSNE’s Director, Dr. Rajesh Rao, has been in the news lately for its unique findings. The team’s research uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the human visual cortex to convey binary information about obstacles in a virtual maze. The information is communicated non-invasively and directly to the brain through TMS without other visual or auditory cues. Research subjects navigate the maze through brain stimulation alone, effectively achieving a sort of ‘sixth sense’ for the brain.

This work was first reported in UW Today, and the article is based on a paper the team published Nov. 16 in Frontiers in Robotics and AI. A video and article featuring Dr. Rao was also published by Reuters/GMA News Online in January, and another piece published this week in CNET.