Reaction paper

Reversing Paralysis

Regarding to the article “Reversing Paralysis” by Antonio Regalado, in the MIT Technology Review magazine, in ten or fifteen years from now, there could be a solution for spinal cord injuries.The immobility caused by an accident or by a genetic condition, can take away the freedom or independence of a person. Grégoire Courtine, the neuroscientist in charge of the investigation and his team were able to create a system which connected the brain with the spine by stimulation. The result is a “neural bypass,” adapted to the brain, which may read the thoughts of the person and make the correct move.

One of the biggest advantages of this discovery, is the breakthrough not only for the person with paralysis by itself, but also for their relatives. The independence of a person is a necessary condition of extreme magnitude, because it makes us feel useful and confident, like we can do whatever we want without waiting for someone else’s help. Obviously, when a person suffers some kind of accident or is born with a condition that does not allow him or her to have a normal and independent life, the people who are around the affected person, have to assume the responsibility of the situation. Consequently, it is impossible not to think about how exhausting this situation is for the family, friends, or couple of the sick person. Moreover, this is not only about the responsibility that those around the person have to face, but it is also about the constant suffering lived by them, while they feel like there is nothing that they can do to help the person affected by paralysis.

Furthermore, thanks to this particular advancement, in a not so distant future, neurological diseases could decrease quantitatively. Diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, multiple sclerosis, among many others that affect the brain, spinal cord, cranial and peripheral nerves, the nerve roots, the autonomic nervous system, the neuromuscular plate, and the muscles themselves, may be able to have a solution, a cure. If we think about it, when we talk about the disappearance of a disease like paralysis, it seems to be like something utopian, for our vision is limited by our progress as a species. We have never seen such an important progress for human beings like this one; accordingly, we are used to thinking that a cure for paralysis is impossible. However, thanks to this amazing investigation, people who suffer this unfortunate condition will have the chance of change this situation and have better and happier lives; besides, these advancements even allow us to believe that in a not too distant future, paralysis will not exist anymore.

To conclude with this reaction paper, we have the feeling that this scientific progress will make one of the biggest changes in the world. We have been passionated with this technological advance, it may be a possibility to finally have a solution for all the paraplegics and quadriplegics people, moreover, to give them back their mobility, therefore, their freedom to live independently once and for all, and the most important fact, to have a new thought, that everything could be solvable.

Written by Débora Catalán Pino and Pamela Erices Terán

In this reaction paper, we have learned how to express ourselves in a polite and formal structure. Also, we can say that we learned new vocabulary and new expressions (as connectors and phrases) that we need to use to have a better level of proficiency. This task has been very interesting, because we have had the opportunity of improve our writing skills, and express our opinion in a real situation.