--- description: Austrian scientists hail bionic breakthrough with innovative prosthesis controlled with the mind. title: 3 Men in Austria Just Became Cyborgs image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [Health](/section/health/) ## Health Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Neuroscience](/tag/neuroscience/) ## Neuroscience Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Three Guys in Austria Have Basically Become Cyborgs After Getting Robotic Hands by [David Stout](/author/david-stout/) ## David Stout Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 25, 2015 6:51 AM CUT by [David Stout](/author/david-stout/) ## David Stout Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 25, 2015 6:51 AM CUT Robotic hands have been successfully [attached](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150224192618.htm "undefined") to three amputees in Austria, using a new technique that allows the users to control their electronic limbs with their minds. The operations were completed by using an innovative procedure called bionic reconstruction, which connects prostheses directly to a patient’s nerves, according to a [study](http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2814%2961776-1/abstract "undefined") in British medical journal _The Lancet_. The procedure first involves intense cognitive training to prepare the body and mind for the advanced robotic prosthesis, followed by elective amputation and replacement. Once attached, the bionic hand allows all three patients to perform everyday activities, like using kitchen utensils and opening doors. “So far, bionic reconstruction has only been done in our center in Vienna,” said Professor Oskar Aszmann from the Medical University of Vienna. “However, there are no technical or surgical limitations that would prevent this procedure from being done in centers with similar expertise and resources.” \[[_Science Daily_](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150224192618.htm "undefined")\] ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3721653/bionic-amputee-breakthrough-neuroscience-austria/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3721653/bionic-amputee-breakthrough-neuroscience-austria/"},"headline":"Three Guys in Austria Have Basically Become Cyborgs After Getting Robotic Hands","datePublished":"2015-02-25T06:51:43.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T04:41:30.279Z","description":"The bionic hand allows the patients to perform everyday activities","url":"https://time.com/3721653/bionic-amputee-breakthrough-neuroscience-austria/","keywords":["Neuroscience","Austria","health"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"David Stout","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/david-stout/"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/neuroscience/","name":"Neuroscience"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3721653/bionic-amputee-breakthrough-neuroscience-austria/","name":"Three Guys in Austria Have Basically Become Cyborgs After Getting Robotic Hands"}}]}] ```