Man controls bionic arm with his brain, uses it to drink beer

Thanks to a team of neuroscientists and one very complex piece of equipment, Erik Sorto can once again enjoy the simple pleasure of taking a swig of ice cold beer.

The robotic limb is controlled using 4mm x 4mm electrodes that were implanted into the posterior parietal cortex of his brain in 2013.

Since the electrodes were implanted, neuroscientists have been working with Sorto to perfect the movements of the bionic arm.

"The project has made a huge difference in my life. It gives me great pleasure to be part of the solution for improving paralyzed patients' lives," Sorto told Brain Decoder. "I joke around with the guys that I want to be able to drink my own beer — to be able to take a drink at my own pace, when I want to take a sip out of my beer and to not have to ask somebody to give it to me. I really miss that independence. I think that if it was safe enough, I would really enjoy grooming myself — shaving, brushing my own teeth. That would be fantastic."

Judging by the smile on his face, we'd say the wait was well worth it.

More: Watch the moment a man with a bionic eye sees for the first time in 33 years