In a recent, highly-anticipated demonstration, Neuralink, the neurotechnology company co-founded by Elon Musk, presented the first human subject using its brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. The individual, Noland Arbaugh, a 29-year-old man paralyzed from the shoulders down due to a diving accident, showcased his ability to control a computer cursor and play games using only his thoughts.
Arbaugh’s participation in the demonstration served as a tangible step forward in Neuralink’s goal to create systems that enable individuals with paralysis to operate digital devices through brain signals. “A lot of what we started out with was attempting to move,” Arbaugh said. “I would attempt to move, say, my right hand left, right forward, back. And from there, I think it just became intuitive for me to start imagining the cursor moving.”
The device’s functionality offers a considerable leap for assistive technology, enabling longer sessions of interaction with technology, as Arbaugh indicated, allowing him up to eight hours of use before needing to recharge.
Neuralink began recruiting patients for its first-in-human clinical trial in the fall after it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to conduct the study in May 2023, according to a blog post. In January, Musk said the company implanted its device in a human for the first time, and that the patient, now revealed to be Arbaugh, was “recovering well,” according to a post on X.
In the video, Arbaugh indicated his experience with the brain implant has so far been positive, despite some initial issues. “It’s not perfect, I would say that we have run into some issues,” he said. “I don’t want people to think that this is the end of the journey. There’s a lot of work to be done, but it has already changed my life.”
Relevant articles:
– Neuralink’s First Human Subject Demonstrates His Brain-Computer Interface
– Here’s a video of the first human Neuralink patient controlling a computer with his thoughts, Engadget, Wed, 20 Mar 2024 23:56:59 GMT
– Neuralink shares video of patient playing chess using signals from brain implant, NBC Connecticut, Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:35:55 GMT
– What to know about Elon Musk’s Neuralink, which put an implant into a human brain, NPR, Tue, 30 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT