And a baby's brain is plastic, able to reprogram one area to substitute for another.

WSJ: Wise Beyond Their Years: What Babies Really Know

Langer designed a dime-size plastic wafer inserted into the brain during tumor removal.

FORBES: Magazine Article

"Character and personality changes are fairly pervasive with motor vehicle accidents, " he said, but added that the brain was changeable or "plastic" and repaired itself over time to varying extents.

BBC: Slow, difficult period to come

The researchers got some brave specimens to move a mouse cursor by implanting plastic pads containing electrodes underneath their skulls, with the sensors sitting on the surface of the brain.

ENGADGET: Test subjects with electrode implants use mind control to move a cursor