“The next step is to use the data to control robot arms developed by the University of Tokyo’s Department of Precision Engineering.”

This is just the first step – recording and analyzing data. Which they are going to do on epilepsy patients (and others) who are already going to have their skulls cracked open and electrodes inserted. In other words, yes, they are already performing the procedure you’re describing. The controlling of external parts *is* what sets this apart.