Elon Musk’s Neuralink Aims to Test Brain Chips on Ten Quadriplegics by 2024

Neuralink Receives Approval for Second Brain Chip Implant, Aims to Expand Trials

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval to Elon Musk's Neuralink to implant its brain chip in a second person.

This comes after the company addressed issues encountered during the first human trial, where tiny wires implanted in the brain of the first patient shifted out of position.

To rectify this problem in future implants, Neuralink plans to embed the device's wires deeper into the brain tissue.

Neuralink aims to implant its brain-computer interface (BCI) in two new participants, with the second participant targeted by June 2024.

The company is targeting a total of 10 participants for the year and has received interest from over 1,000 quadriplegic individuals for its patient registry.

Neuralink is also seeking regulatory approval in Canada and Britain to conduct similar trials.

The First Participant: Noland Arbaugh

A 29-year-old man, Noland Arbaugh, who sustained a life-altering spinal cord injury in a diving accident eight years ago, made history by becoming the first person to receive a Neuralink brain implant chip in January 2024.

The implant, lodged in his skull, translates his brain signals into computer actions through a network of ultra-fine electrodes.

This has given Arbaugh a new level of control compared to his previous method - a mouth stick - allowing him to play games, browse the internet, and even learn new languages.

The N1 implant isn't without its hurdles.

The initial surgery in January 2024 went smoothly. However, some of the implant's threads malfunctioned, causing data loss.

Some of the electrode-bearing threads inserted into Arbaugh's brain retracted after surgery, requiring adjustments to the data collection algorithms.

This technical hiccup caused emotional distress for Arbaugh, fearing he would lose the newfound abilities. He even admitted to crying at the prospect of losing the connection.

Fortunately, Neuralink's engineers were able to address the problem and improve the connection. Arbaugh remains hopeful about the future, believing spinal cord injuries won't be permanently debilitating and a full recovery might be achievable.

Despite this setback, Arbaugh has achieved a new record for human BCI cursor control, reaching a speed and accuracy of 8.0 bits-per-second.

He even boasts about beating his friends in games like Slay the Spire and Old School RuneScape, something impossible before the implant.

“I'm beating my friends in games that as a quadriplegic I should not be beating them in.”

Arbaugh spends a significant amount of time using the BCI – 69 hours in a single week, with 34 hours dedicated to gaming and leisure activities.

The implant, nicknamed "Eve" by Arbaugh, has opened doors for him to explore the internet, learn new languages, and enjoy a wider range of video games.

This positive outcome instilled hope in Arbaugh, who believes the technology holds the potential to revolutionise the lives of those with spinal cord injuries.

He envisions a future where such injuries are no longer completely debilitating, with patients potentially undergoing surgery and regaining mobility within days.

This is also what Elon Musk aims for, which he shared in a post on X.

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Risk and Transparency Concerns

While this is a significant advancement in brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, Neuralink has faced criticism for its lack of transparency and potential ethical violations during animal testing.

Concerns regarding patient safety arose due to reports of animal cruelty during Neuralink's development process. Monkeys implanted with prototype versions of the device reportedly suffered and died in some cases.

Additionally, the robotic surgeon designed for the implant procedure had never been used on a living human before Arbaugh's surgery.

However, Arbaugh's experience seems positive. He reported an easy surgery with a quick recovery and no cognitive impairments.

The ability to control a cursor with his thoughts represents a life-changing improvement in his quality of life.

What is Neuralink?

Neuralink, a company co-founded by Elon Musk, is one of several companies developing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). These BCIs are surgically implanted devices that can decode brain signals.

Source: CNET

This allows people with paralysis to control computers, tablets, and phones using their thoughts.

In the future, these devices could also be used to control robotic limbs, allowing paralysed individuals to regain more physical independence.

While there is a lot of hype and fear surrounding BCIs, it is important to remember that this is a new technology.

Currently, BCIs are not for everyday use and are only being tested in clinical trials. The main goal of this research is to help people with severe medical conditions, such as paralysis.

However, with continued research and development, BCIs have the potential to help a wider range of patients in the future.

On 17 May, Musk announced on X that they have opened up applications to join their clinical trial as their second participant.

The Future of Human-Machine Integration

Neuralink's progress with its brain chip implant presents a fascinating glimpse into the future of human-machine integration. While the technology is in its early stages, with technical hurdles and ethical concerns to address, the potential to restore function and even enhance human capabilities is undeniable. The coming years will likely see continued advancements in BCI technology, pushing the boundaries of what's possible and challenging us to grapple with the profound societal implications of a future where our minds and machines are ever more closely linked.