Elon Musk has announced that his company Neuralink has successfully implanted a brain chip in a second human patient, marking a significant milestone.
Neuralink’s mission is to assist individuals with spinal cord injuries, and the recent development shows promise for the future of neurotechnology.
The company’s first patient, Noland Arbaugh, received the inaugural chip in January this year. Arbaugh, 29, lost all movement and sensation in his arms and legs after a diving accident in 2016. Following the implant, Arbaugh can now control a computer mouse using his thoughts, a remarkable achievement that highlights the potential of Neuralink’s technology.
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Revolutionizing lives
Neuralink is currently testing its brain chips to aid people with spinal cord injuries. The chips enable users to play video games, browse the internet, post on social media, and move a cursor on their laptops using only their thoughts. This technology could revolutionize the lives of those with severe mobility impairments, providing new avenues for interaction and communication.
However, the journey has not been without challenges. In the weeks following Arbaugh’s surgery, Neuralink reported that some of the implant’s connective threads retracted from his brain, reducing the signals the device could capture. The company did not disclose the cause but stated that it had modified an algorithm to improve the detection and translation of brain signals. It remains unknown whether the retracted threads posed any safety concerns for Arbaugh at the time.
Musk shared limited details about the second patient, only mentioning that they had a spinal cord injury similar to Arbaugh’s. He also revealed plans to provide implants to eight more patients this year as part of ongoing clinical trials.
Neuralink’s N1 device, roughly the size of a small coin, is designed to be fully implanted in the skull. It connects to the brain’s motor cortex through 64 ultra-thin threads with tiny electrodes that pick up neural signals. This innovative technology represents a significant leap forward in neurotechnology, offering hope for improved quality of life for individuals with spinal cord injuries.
