Silk in brain surgery

A brain implant made partly of silk can melt on to the surface of the brain, providing an "intimate" connection for recording signals, researchers reported.

Tests of their device showed the thin, flexible electrodes recorded signals from a cat's brain more accurately than thicker, stiff devices.

Such devices might help people with epilepsy and spinal cord injuries and might even help operate artificial arms and legs, the researchers said in the journal Nature Materials.