The Swirling Brain noticed this Daily News story about UW Neurobotics Laboratory director Yoky Matsuoka winning the $500,000 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s “genius grant”. Matsuoka, who does research in robotics and prosthetics, one the aware for groundbreaker work in neurobotics. The aware surprised Matsuoka, who didn't apply and didn't know she had been nominated. According to her website, the Neurobotics Lab "is interested in building a robot-human closed loop system to alter the neural control of movement as a way to rehabilitate, assist, and enhance human motor control and learning capabilities. Our primary target population is individuals with strokes, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other injuries that inhibit daily activities. We also target sports medicine, military, and entertainment applications."