The company is testing its brain chip in humans, having won approval this month to implant the device in a second patient; the first patient faced problems
A Neuralinkthe billionaire’s startup Elon Musk who develops brain implants, admitted earlier this month to having had them problems with the chip inserted into its first human patient: 85% of the wires have detached from the brain of young Nolan Arbaugh, who is quadriplegic. Despite the problem, he managed to use the system, interacting with the digital interfaces using only his brain.
Also this month, the company received authorization from the US regulatory agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to perform surgery to implant a chip in the brain of a second human patient. But how does this Neuralink brain chip work? See questions and answers about the company below.
What is Neuralink?
In 2017, Musk announced his investment in the startup, created with the aim of implanting chips in the human brain, developing brain-computer interaction technology. This type of neural interface, with the fusion between machines and the human brain, would allow people to use computers using only their thoughts, faster than with their hands.
The idea would enable uses such as storing and replaying memories, for example, among others. The “symbiosis” between machine and human mind would also have great potential for use in the healthcare sector, as possible treatments for paralysis, blindness, memory loss and other nervous diseases.
What do Musk and Neuralink hope to do with the brain chips?
According to the company, in addition to allowing the brain to interact with computers, the use of brain chips could benefit people suffering from diseases or syndromes. Studies have already shown that the correct modulation of brain signals can lead to notable progress in some diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease.
By 2022, Musk said the company’s devices will allow blind people to see or give someone with a severed spinal cord “full-body functionality.” At the time, his claims drew skepticism from experts, who argued that the science had not yet advanced to that point.
The interaction of the human mind with computers would also allow for uses such as storing one’s memories. Musk has already mentioned in a post on X, formerly Twitter, the potential for uses like streaming music directly into people’s brains, which would make not only headphones obsolete, but also the ears themselves.
Some scientists are enthusiastic about the studies and tests, but others raise ethical concerns, fearing the potentially dangerous consequences of using this technology, ranging from harming mental privacy to exacerbating inequality.
How does the Neuralink brain chip work?
Neuralink’s first product, which is being tested in humans, is called Telepathy and is a chip that can allow a person to control a phone or computer with their thoughts.
So far brain implants have only been developed in one direction: from the brain to the outside (usually a computer that processes the signals), but the Neuralink project aims to be able to transfer information also in the opposite direction, from the machine to the outside . the brain.
The function of the implant would be to “read” brain activity to transmit orders that help restore some severely damaged brain functions after a heart attack or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, for example, which lead to serious damage to communication ability.
A Neuralink said the implant is performed using a robotsimilar to a sewing machine, capable of implanting ultra-thin threads deep into people’s brains.
The company claims that the system will eventually be able to read and write large amounts of information. But like many of Musk’s other ventures, such as spaceships or futuristic tunnels, one of the biggest challenges may be convincing his scientists to live up to his grand vision.
How is this brain implant tested?
Neuralink began testing on animals around 2020, and in April 2021 the company released a video of a monkey playing Pong with just its mind, using a neurotransmitter implanted in the brain. In February 2022, however, the Doctors’ Committee for Responsible Medicine accused the company of mistreating the animals used in the tests. The company denied the allegations. In September 2023 the company he was again accused of mistreatment by the same committee, which said the company’s tests had caused brain damage and even death in some animals. The company did not comment.
In May 2023, Neuralink received FDA approval to begin human trials, starting looking for people for initial trials in September. They were specifically looking for people with quadriplegia or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, over the age of 22 and with a reliable caregiver, for a six-year study of home and laboratory medical visits.
The company placed the first chip in a human brain in January 2024, in Nolan Arbaugh, a quadriplegic man. In the following months, the first human Neuralink patient was recorded while he played chess using the power of thought, moving the cursor on the screen with only his brain. Musk also posted a video showing it Arbaugh plays Mario Kart with the power of his mind.
In early May, Neuralink admitted as much several wires “withdrawn” from the young man’s brain “resulting in a decrease in the number of effective electrodes”: 85% of the filaments detached from Arbaugh’s brain. The Neuralink team expected his brain to form scar tissue around the wires at the base of the brain to hold it together, which didn’t happen.
Despite this, Neuralink made changes to the chip’s system to use the small amount of signals captured by Arbaugh’s brain and translate them into digital commands. Despite the inconvenience, Arbaugh managed to use the system for about eight hours a day during the week and up to ten hours on weekends, interacting with digital interfaces using only his brain.
Also in May the company received permission from the FDA, the United States regulatory agency, to perform implant surgery for a chip in the brain of a second human patient./With the NYT
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
