Researchers at Chicago's Northwestern University have found a way to bypass the spinal cord in order to let the brain directly control otherwise-paralyzed muscles. The team used a method called functional electrical stimulation (FES), which causes muscles to contract in patterns that mimic natural grasps or other movement. After implanting small electrodes in the brains of two monkey test subjects, the researchers injected anesthetic into the monkeys' lower arms, simulating the effects of a paralyzed wrist and hand. The monkeys then tried to throw a ball into a chute, something they'd been trained to do earlier. With no stimulation, their hands were unable to grasp the ball. Once it was turned on, though, the electrical stimulus gave them almost complete control over grabbing and throwing it. The video below shows the frankly amazing difference between the two states.