NAIROBI, Kenya- Elon Musk’s brain implant startup, Neuralink, is on the hunt for a second participant to test its groundbreaking device. This call for applications comes five months after the company implanted a brain chip into its first human trial participant, Noland Arbaugh, and just a week after disclosing that Arbaugh’s implant had encountered an unexpected issue.
Neuralink initially hailed the implant as a life-changer for Arbaugh, a 30-year-old quadriplegic who can now control a computer cursor with his mind. However, the company recently admitted that the threads connecting the chip to Arbaugh’s brain had retracted, causing performance issues. Neuralink made adjustments to improve its function, and despite the setback, Arbaugh remains optimistic. “I didn’t have anything to wake up for in the morning, and this has changed that for me,” Arbaugh shared on Good Morning America. He has been paralyzed since a diving accident in 2016 and sees this technology as a monumental step forward for people with paralysis.
Now, Neuralink is looking for more participants like Arbaugh. “If you have quadriplegia and want to explore new ways of controlling your computer, we invite you to participate in our clinical trial,” the company announced on X.
The Vision of Neuralink
Neuralink’s ultimate ambition is to connect human brains to computers, enabling paralyzed individuals to control smartphones or computers and potentially helping blind people regain sight. The implant collects electrical signals from the brain and interprets them as actions, much like existing brain-machine interfaces.
The current trial is part of the PRIME Study (Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface), focusing on the safety of the implant and surgical robot while testing the device’s functionality. Neuralink is enrolling patients with limited or no ability to use both hands due to cervical spinal cord injury or ALS.
Arbaugh’s Journey and Challenges
Arbaugh’s implant, placed in the part of the brain controlling movement intention, records and sends brain signals to an app. Initially, this allowed him to control a computer cursor using his thoughts. About a month post-operation, Arbaugh could control a computer mouse with his brain, and Neuralink showcased a video of him playing chess using only his mind.
However, the device soon faced a problem when many of the threads came loose, stunting data processing speeds and performance. “I cried afterwards,” Arbaugh confessed. “It was very, very hard to give up all of the amazing things that I was able to do.” Despite this, Neuralink managed to stabilize the remaining threads and implemented software changes to restore many of the device’s capabilities.
Moving Forward
Neuralink says these early trials are crucial for uncovering issues before the technology is marketed. DJ Seo, Neuralink co-founder, explained, “We rolled up our sleeves and found various different ways for Noland to be able to recover his performance, which we have successfully been able to do.”
Consumers won’t see widespread access to this technology soon, as broader regulatory approval is needed. The FDA has cleared Neuralink to implant its brain chip in a second patient after the company outlined fixes for the electrode problem that limited the first trial’s functionality.
The Competitive Landscape
Neuralink is not alone in this race. Rival company Synchron is preparing a large-scale clinical trial, aiming for commercial approval of its implant. Meanwhile, Mass General Brigham has launched a collaborative effort with stakeholders and the FDA to accelerate the development of these devices.
Neuralink’s journey underscores the complexities and challenges of developing brain-computer interface technology. While the road is fraught with obstacles, the potential benefits for individuals with paralysis or other neurological disorders are immense. As Neuralink continues to refine its technology, the world watches with anticipation for the next breakthrough in merging human brains with computers.
